From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Dec 17, 2002  6:21 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Art Neville

ART NEVILLE (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born Arthur Lanon Neville, 17 December 1937, New Orleans, Louisiana

Art was the oldest of four brothers (followed by Charles, Dec 28, 1938,
Aaron, Jan 24, 1941, and Cyril, Jan 10, 1948). Raised in New Orleans and
steeped deeply in the New Orleans pianistic tradition like his contemporaries,
Professor Longhair, Tuts Washington and Fats Domino, Art was the first sibling
to enter the music field.
He soon joined the Hawketts, as a replacement for piano player Mac Millet
and also as vocalist. In 1954, they recorded the infectious "Mardi Gras
Mambo" which was licensed to Chess Records which put it out in early 1955.
The following year, Art, aged 18, signed with Specialty Records (Specialty
had very recently opened an office in New Orleans). His first release was
"Ooh Wee Baby" (Specialty 592), produced by no less than Bumps Blackwell,
s'il vous plait!
Between 1956 and 1958, Art recorded both as a solo artist ("Let's Rock",
"Back Home To Me", "Zing Zing", "Old Time Rock'n'Roll" and "I'm A Fool
To Care") and as a sideman for Harold Battiste, Jerry Byrne and Larry
Williams (the two also duetted on a great version of Huey Smith's "Rockin
Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu").
More singles were issued by Specialty while Art was in the army (he had
been drafted in 1958), including "Cha Dooky Doo" with fuzz guitar provided
by another New Orleans future star Mac Rebennack (Dr John), but they
failed to chart.
Back to civilian life in 1961, Art cut "All These Things" for Joe Banashak's
Instant label, while brother Aaron recorded under the tutelage of Allen
Toussaint for Banashak's other label, Minit.
It was around the mid 60s that Art formed the Meters with Leo Nocentilli,
George Porter and Joe Modeliste. A great group by itself (but outside the
usual scope of SAO stylewise), the Meters were recognized as one of the best
rhythm section to come out of New Orleans and as such became in-demand
session players, backing Dr John, Lee Dorsey and Labelle. Under their own
name, they issued several good LPs on Warner Brothers.
The Meters split in 1977. Art reunited with his brothers and they formed
the band that bears the family name. A highly successful band, they have
remained active since then, having national pop hits and bringing the great
New Orleans music tradition to younger audiences.

Recommended listening (SAO years era):
ART NEVILLE "Mardi Gras Rock'n'Roll" ACE CDCHD 188
or
ART NEVILLE "His Specialty Recordings: 1956-1958" ACE CDCHD 434

web sites:
The Meters
official site: http://www.funkymeters.com/

The Neville Brothers
official site: http://www.nevilles.com/
http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/Neville-Brothers.htm
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Neville%20Brothers.html