Mardi Gras Indians beloved, Ivory ‘Wildman’ Holmes, has died

30th July 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

“A lot of us in the Nation, we just called him Wild,” says the Golden Blades’ Big Chief Derrick Hulin of Ivory Holmes who held the position of wildman with the Blades since 2010. “That’s how they knew him – that was his nickname. He was Wild.” Ivory “Wildman” Holmes, who was well-known and loved in the Black Indian Nation as well as in the street and music communities died on Saturday, July 14, 2018. He was 63.

Holmes began masking Indian with the Creole Wild West and following several years with the gang, heralded as the city’s oldest Indian tribe, he helped Eugene “Pepe” Estaban establish the Golden Arrows. After the Arrows disbanded, he again played an essential part in establishing a new gang, the Golden Comanche that was led by Big Chief Wallace Pardo, whose surname might be recognized by those familiar with Wallace’s younger brother, Juan Pardo, who is active today.

Even from this brief history of Holmes’ involvement with the Mardi Gras Indians, it’s clear to see that he was a forward-thinking person who enjoyed being involved and keeping things going.

“He did a lot of projects,” Chief Derrick declares and then laughs about Holmes’ eagerness on many creative fronts. “As a wildman, he was tough, tough – he talked plenty of trash. As a person he was probably one of the sweetest guys you ever would want to meet. He was always smiling and laughing. He loved music – that was his passion. He loved creating Mardi Gras Indian music. We could be standing on the corner just talking and he would break out into a song. He was like that.”

A New Orleans native and United States Army veteran, Holmes retired as an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. “After that, music was his thing,” Hulin remembers.

According to Chief Derrick, it was Holmes who was a catalyst in the making of the historic, 1998 album Indians of the Nation – United We Stand Divided We Fall that brought some of the most respected Black Indian chiefs and formidable vocalists together in the studio with the Wildman Ivory among them.

Holmes was also heard on lead vocals on Chief Smiley Ricks’ 2001 album Feathercraft and on poet/free-stylin’ Chuck Perkins’ release A Love Song for Nola on which he provided vocals, congas and tambourine.

First and foremost however, Holmes was known for his distinctive, old-school style of masking as a wildman. Even folks who might not have known the wildman, would often recognize him year after year from the large animal horns atop of his head and his big smile. He was a one of a kind.

“Most wildmen sew patches and whatnot,” Chief Hulin explains. “He’d do patches but he laid them on top of a wild game material. He came out with zebra stripes one year, the next year he might do leopard. You just never knew what he was going to do!”

Notably, Wildman Ivory was the creator of what came to be known as his Hoody Hoo suit that was made with animal skins. The wildman named it that, according to Hulin, because he was wore it, by request, in a video by Master P. “Wild said, ‘I ain’t breaking this suit down because it’s the Hoody Hoo suit.’”

“He was also involved in the Sisters and Brothers organization, performed with Chief Juan Pardo and was a catalyst for the Golden Comanche’s first CD. He was into a lot,” says Chief Derrick, who has been masking Indian for 26 years and this Mardi Gras celebrates his 20th anniversary leading the Golden Blades.

Wildman Ivory’s spirit was never deterred and he continued his antics and carryings-on after losing a leg some six years ago to diabetes.

“Even with one leg riding on the scooter, he was still wild and loved to have a good time,” Chief Derrick declares. “One Super Sunday we were parading and I took my wings off to give my arms a break. I told him I’m just going to put this on your scooter. The next thing I know, I see the scooter take off. He was riding up the street with my wings up!”

“He was probably one of the most generous brothers you ever want to meet,” the chief continues. “You never caught him on a bad day. Wild did a lot for this culture.”

This article originally published in the July 30, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.