The Neville Brothers

Raised in New Orleans, The Neville Brothers fully absorbed the city's rich and exciting musical legacy while experiencing a tough upbringing. Aaron Neville, who went on to become one of the world's most admired soul/R&B singers, was digging ditches when he recorded his signature song, the international hit 'Tell It Like It Is'. His elder brother Art, who had been playing with The Hawketts and had a hit with a funky arrangement of 'Mardi Gras Jumbo', became Aaron's manager as he went on tour with Otis Redding and The Drifters to capitalise on the success of 'Tell It Like It Is'. More bands were formed by other members of the family, including The Meters and Art Neville & The Neville Sounds before they all united in one band - initially The Wild Tchoupitoulas and then The Neville Brothers. They released their first album as The Nevilles in 1978, but it wasn't until a decade later that they struck it big with the Daniel Lanois-produced album 'Yellow Moon' (1989), with an atmospheric style drawing strongly on New Orleans' famous association with voodoo. Art Neville's health problems meant a low profile in the late 1990s, but the brothers returned as a major force with 'Walkin' in the Shadow of Life' in 2004. After another hiatus, they returned with a live performance and a triumphant headline appearance at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival before disbanding in 2012. Charles Neville died on 26th April 2018 as a result of pancreatic cancer. His brother Art passed away on 22nd July 2019.

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