ELDER MUSIC: The Neville Brothers

You never know who you're going to meet on the internet and I came to know Peter Tibbles (bio here) via email over the past couple of years. His extensive knowledge of most genres of music and his excellent taste became apparent only gradually (Peter's not one to toot his horn) but once I understood, I knew he needed his own column at Time Goes By - or, better, that TGB needed his column - which appears here each Sunday. You can find previous Elder Music columns here.

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It's not common knowledge that the Neville Brothers saved the world. Let me tell you how.

As Ronni has mentioned in my bio, I was a DJ for a time on a small community radio station. When I was on, I did everything - work the board, cue the records or CDs, did the chatting (bring my own music in the first place).

I'd also have to answer the phone if it rang (only when a track was playing, otherwise they'd miss out). Fortunately, this didn't happen very often. I imagine that was because hardly anyone listened.

Well, one day it did and as music was playing, I answered. The caller said that she had heard that the world was coming to an end that very day. Indeed, at 3PM. Well, I was rather taken aback by this news and I neglected to enquire as to how this was going to occur, but thought, okay, not too bad, I wouldn't have to complete the shift that day.

As three o'clock approached, I decided there was one way to avert this catastrophe. I put on a long Neville Brothers track that would go past the fatal hour. I figured that God wouldn't want to end the world while the Nevs were playing. I was right. As you can see, we're all still here.

The Neville Brothers are Art, Charles, Aaron and Cyril. Art is a keyboard player, Charles plays sax and has made some fine jazz albums. Aaron has the voice of an angel and Cyril is a James Brown-style vocalist who brings a modern music perspective to the group.

From the fifties onwards starting with Art, they all made music in various bands and as soloists. Art started out in a band called The Hawketts. They recorded a tune that's still played to this day around Mardi Gras (and other times) - Mardi Gras Mambo.

The Hawketts - Mardi Gras Mambo

The Hawketts evolved into the notable group, The Meters. This is Art's group along with several fine New Orleans musicians (Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr. and Zigaboo Modeliste). This group reforms every now and then and a related group, The Funky Meters, with Brian Stoltz replacing Leo, still plays to this day.

This will set your toes a-tappin’ - The Meters with Look-Ka Pi Pi.

The Meters - Look-Ka Pi Pi

Aaron had a solo career as a singer in the Sixties. He had a number of hits at that time starting with Tell It Like It Is. He toured with Art supporting that record, as his record company went broke and didn't pay any royalties. Where have we heard that story before?

When asked when he first knew that his voice was something special, Aaron said, "It was the day I was born. The doctor slapped me and I said, ‘Ah-aaaah!’" Bob Dylan said of him: "His singing could bring sanity back in a world of madness." Here he is singing Hercules from back then.

Aaron Neville - Hercules

The Wild Tchoupitoulas were originally a group of "Mardi Gras Indians" formed in the early Seventies by George Landry ("Big Chief Jolly"). With the help of The Meters and Landry's nephews - surprise! The Neville Brothers - they recorded an eponymous album. This didn't sell very well, but it marked the first appearance of all four of the Nevilles on the one record. Meet de Boys on the Battlefront.

Wild Tchoupitoulas - Meet de Boys on the Battlefront

They then started recording using their own name. The second record under the Neville Brothers name was “Fiyo on the Bayou.” This is a fine album, but didn't sell heaps. On one track, Aaron pretty much channeled Nat King Cole with Mona Lisa.

Neville Brothers - Mona Lisa

The album that put them on the map to the general public is "Yellow Moon". This was produced by Daniel Lanois - and a fine job he did, too.

In an interview, Cyril said, "Daniel came to New Orleans and turned a house on St. Charles into a studio. Art brought in a stuffed bobcat, some big ol' rubber snakes and thickets of moss to hang from the ceiling. Lanois had the voodoo vibe going strong." Well, whatever gets you going.

The song from this album is about Rosa Parks, and you don't need me to tell you about her, called Sister Rosa.

Neville Brothers - Sister Rosa

These days, several second-generation Nevilles appear in the band.

Comments

[Alan G]

After reading your harrowing account on averting the catastrophic ‘end of the world’, I have to say that your selection of talent and song to stave off our demise was irreproachable. I can only offer my humble thanks.

As to the subject talent, it doesn’t get much better. They exemplify the city of their roots, New Orleans, and those roots permeate through their sound. It much resembles the Memphis sound that I was much closer to growing up.

I still remember being first introduced to the ‘brothers’ through Aaron when he released “Tell It Like It Is” which is such a great , great piece of music.

Enjoyed you post…..

[zuleme]

and would you believe they played in Brownfield, Maine at the 200 seat Stone Mountain Arts Center? Four of us chipped in to buy a ticket for a friend who said it was heavenly.

[Mage B]

What fun. My toes are tapping, and the richness of that last tune is tipping me over. :)

[Keri]

Oh boy, your musical taste is impecible. Great read, thanks for sharing. If the world were going to end and I had to pick a song to play for the big send off, I don't think I could have found a better one. Maybe with the exception of "People Get Ready" by the Isley Bro's (at least I think that's correct). Keri

[Citizen K.]

Look for Treacherous, their excellent anthology. It includes "Tell It Like It Is" and "Meet De Boys On the Battlefront."

[wisewebwoman]

Thanks for averting the catastrophe, Peter. Even living in Dialup Dementia as I am, it was well worth the 15 minute download time!
XO
WWW

[janinsanfran]

Heard the Nevilles open for the Grateful Dead sometime in the late 80s. I liked them better than the Dead, but didn't mention it in the company available that night. :-)

[joared]

Thank heavens you avoided that catastrophe for all of us. Never before did I know who to thank. Hope your program received public service credit with the FCC, or maybe that was in Australia and you didn't have such programming accounting.

[Peter Tibbles]

Nope, nobody knew about it at the time. I didn’t mention the reason for the long Nevs’ track. Well, we wouldn’t want have the three people listening panicking and scaring the horses.

[Paula]

I love Aaron Neville! As Linda Rondstadt once said, he doesn't sing like an angel, but like an archangel!

[Jon Edwards]

Pierre ! I was listening to something - can't remember what - but it made me think of you and your your extensive musical knowledge. Google'd your name and here I am. It's time to catch up. jonedwards@timpack.net

[Ronald B. Antoine]

Best wishes to The Brothers!
Christmas/New Year 2009-2010

Ronald Antoine