Art Neville, keyboardist in both The Neville Brothers and funk group The Meters, died Monday at his home in New Orleans. He was 81.
A cause of death was not immediately revealed.
New Orleans has lost another legend. Art Neville was a founding father of New Orleans funk, and so much more. We are poorer for his passing, and richer for having known him. Generations of New Orleanians grew up on the sounds that Art Neville laid down over the decades. pic.twitter.com/jRR3V3uaL8
— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) July 22, 2019
Neville and his brothers Aaron, Charles and Cyril formed a music act in 1976 and released 10 studio albums between 1978 and 2004. They disbanded in 2012 but reunited for a one last concert in 2015.
Charles died of cancer last year at 79.
Prior to working with his brothers, Neville was a founding member of The Meters, a groundbreaking group that also backed artists like Dr. John and Robert Palmer. They were honoured last year with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Art will be deeply missed by many, but remembered for imaginatively bringing New Orleans funk to life,” the Recording Academy said, in a release.
Neville leaves behind wife Lorraine and three children.
And now the parade of huge losses in NOLA music continues--RIP the heart and soul of 2 great bands, Art Neville. Some parade--no throws.
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) July 22, 2019
I don’t usually post when someone passes away, but the passing of Art Neville is hitting me harder than usual. He was such a kind-hearted man. The pinnacle of my entire career was sharing the stage with him. Losing him is losing an icon and I’m devastated. #RIPArt pic.twitter.com/6MkCb0oEYp
— Marc Broussard (@MarcBroussard) July 22, 2019
We sending Art Neville home the New Orleans way. RIP pic.twitter.com/u0KmGY68cv
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) July 23, 2019
Dr. John and Art Neville were dear friends, deepest sympathies to the Neville family.
— Dr. John (@akadrjohn) July 22, 2019
Pictured: Dr. John with Art & Allen Toussaint in 1973 at Montreux Jazz Fest [Getty]; and with the Funky Meters in 2016. pic.twitter.com/Zc4ynpUMk5
Without #artneville, we wouldn’t have The Hawketts’ “Mardi Gras Mambo,” the Neville Brothers, the Meters, The Meters’ “Hey Pocky A-Way,” and anything or anyone that derived from or was inspired by the aforementioned. Think about this.
— DJ Soul Sister (@djsoulsister) July 23, 2019