SLS 201ES-39 ORIGINAL
2020 First Extraordinary Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 2
BY SENATOR CARTER
CONDOLENCES. Expresses the condolences upon the death of Arthur "Art" Lanon
Neville.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Arthur
3 "Art" Lanon Neville.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the Legislature of
5 Louisiana learned of the passing of Art Neville, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of
6 eighty-one on July 22, 2019, after years of declining health; and
7 WHEREAS, Arthur Lanon Neville was born on December 17, 1937, the son of
8 Amelia (Landry) and Arthur Neville Sr.; and
9 WHEREAS, he grew up in New Orleans and was a singer, songwriter, and
10 keyboardist; and
11 WHEREAS, Art Neville started on piano and performed with his brothers at an early
12 age and was influenced by the R&B styles of James Booker, Bill Doggett, Booker T. Jones,
13 Lloyd Glenn, and Professor Longhair; and
14 WHEREAS, when in high school, he joined The Hawketts and, in 1954, recorded
15 "Mardi Gras Mambo" that gained popularity and became a New Orleans carnival anthem;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, Art Neville joined the United States Navy in 1958, and returned to
18 music in 1962; and
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SLS 201ES-39 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, in the early 1960s he formed the Neville Sounds which included Aaron
2 Neville, Cyril Neville, George Porter, Leo Nocentelli, and Ziggy Modeliste playing at the
3 Nitecap and the Ivanhoe nightclubs; and
4 WHEREAS, Art Neville backed many notable artists such as Lee Dorsey, Betty
5 Harris, and the Pointer Sisters; his band had a strong sense of "groove" and, unlike
6 traditional groups, each instrument was free to lead and go anywhere musically … this style,
7 over time, became known as "New Orleans Funk"; and
8 WHEREAS, he was a staple of the New Orleans music scene for more than five
9 decades; and
10 WHEREAS, Art Neville was the founder of the funk band The Meters whose musical
11 style set the tone of New Orleans Funk; he was a co-founder of the rock-soul-jazz band The
12 Neville Brothers, and he later formed the spinoff group, The Funky Meters; and
13 WHEREAS, he performed on many recordings by notable artists from New Orleans
14 and elsewhere, including Patti Labelle, Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr.
15 John, Professor Longhair, and Chocolate Milk; and
16 WHEREAS, Art Neville and his band gained notoriety in the rock music community
17 including Paul McCartney, Robert Palmer, and The Rolling Stones, which had a lasting
18 impact on upcoming musical styles such as hip-hop, as well as jam bands, including Phish,
19 Galactic, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; and
20 WHEREAS, in 1978, Art Neville and his brothers Cyril, Aaron, and Charles formed
21 The Neville Brothers who were previously working with The Wild Tchoupitoulas; and
22 WHEREAS, Art Neville & The Neville Brothers released their first album in 1978
23 and in 1981 famous music critic, Stephen Holden, wrote: "The Neville Brothers" style of
24 soul music combines "funk, doo-wop, reggae, and salsa under the banner of New Orleans
25 rhythm and blues"; and
26 WHEREAS, Art Neville performed many shows with the original Meters bandmates
27 including a 1989 reunion at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and following that performance,
28 Neville, Porter, Nocentelli, and Russell Batiste formed The Funky Meters; and
29 WHEREAS, he received a Grammy in 1989 with the Neville Brothers for Best Pop
30 Instrumental Performance; and
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SLS 201ES-39 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Art Neville received a Grammy in 1996 with various artists for Best
2 Rock Instrumental Performance in "SRV Shuffle" a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan; and
3 WHEREAS, he was nominated for a Grammy in 1999 in the category Best
4 Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, and he also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement
5 Award in 2018 as a member of The Meters; and
6 WHEREAS, Art Neville retired from music in December 2018 and Louisiana
7 Governor John Bel Edwards released statements in recognition of his contributions to New
8 Orleans music; and
9 WHEREAS, Art Neville is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Lorraine; three
10 children, Arthel, Ian, and Amelia; a sister and his two brothers, Aaron and Cyril.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
12 express its deepest regrets on the death of Arthur "Art" Lanon Neville; and does hereby
13 commend him posthumously for the incredible legacy he left on his community, state, and
14 nation, and offer thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort to those who mourn him.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution shall be transmitted
16 to the family of Arthur Lanon Neville.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SCR 2 Original 2020 First Extraordinary Session Carter
Expresses condolences upon the death of Arthur "Art" Lanon Neville.
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