Art Neville

Art Neville
Neville at the 2012 Jazz Fest
Background information
Birth name	Arthur Lanon Neville
Born	(1937-12-17) December 17, 1937 (age 79) New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres	Funk, R&B, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, bandleader
Instruments	Vocals, piano, keyboards
Years active	Early 1950s–present
Associated acts	Hawketts, Neville Sounds, The Meters, Neville Brothers, The Funky Meters

Arthur Lanon "Art" Neville (born December 17, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist from New Orleans.

Neville is a part of one of the notable musical families of New Orleans, the Neville Brothers. He is a founding member of The Meters, whose musical style represents New Orleans funk. He continues to play with the spinoff group The Funky Meters.

Neville has played on recordings by many notable artists from New Orleans and elsewhere, including Labelle (on "Lady Marmalade"), Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Professor Longhair.

Neville grew up in New Orleans. He is the son of Amelia Landry and Arthur Neville Sr. He started on piano and performed with his brothers at an early age. He was influenced by the R&B styles of James Booker, Bill Doggett, Booker T. Jones, Lloyd Glenn and Professor Longhair. In high school he joined and later led The Hawketts. In 1954 the band recorded "Mardi Gras Mambo" with Neville on vocals. The song gained popularity and became a New Orleans carnival anthem. The band toured with Larry Williams. Neville performed regularly in New Orleans, joined the U.S. Navy in 1958, and returned to music in 1962. He released several singles as a lead artist in 1950s and 1960s.

In early 1960s Neville formed the Neville Sounds. The band included Aaron Neville, Cyril Neville, George Porter, Leo Nocentelli, and later Ziggy Modeliste. Shortly after, Aaron and Cyril left the group to form their own band. The remaining four members continued playing at the Nitecap and the Ivanhoe nightclubs. The band backed up many notable musicians such as Lee Dorsey, Betty Harris and The Pointer Sisters. The band had a strong sense of groove and unlike traditional groups each instrument was free to lead and go anywhere musically. Over time the band's style came to represent New Orleans funk.