Art Neville Biography
Arthur Lanon Neville, 17 December 1937, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Neville first attracted attention as a member of the Hawkettes, a Crescent City act that achieved notable local success in 1954 with "Mardi Gras Mambo". Although ostensibly a keyboard player - he appeared as session pianist on Jerry Byrne's "Lights Out" - Neville also undertook a singing career and, having signed with the renowned Specialty Records, enjoyed a regional hit with his debut single, "Cha Dooky-Doo". This progress was interrupted by a spell in the US armed forces, but upon being discharged, he completed a series of low-key singles for the Minit/Instant label. Neville later achieved considerable acclaim as a member of the Meters, which in turn evolved into the equally compulsive Neville Brothers, where Art was joined by siblings Cyril, Charles and Aaron Neville.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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