(Writer: Frankie Cavone)

Art Neville, keyboardist of The Meters has passed away at the age of 81. The NOLA funk legend was a founding member of the group along with the Neville Brothers. Over his career, the famed keyboardist hit many milestones in his 50 year spanning career including winning multiple Grammy Awards along with the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He as influenced musicians all around with his approach to funk music going back to the 1960’s when the The Meters were formed which also consisted of his brother Art Neville, George Porter Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste and Leo Nocentelli. The group has toured with some of the world’s greatest acts including The Rolling Stones and Santana. They are known for songs such as “Cissy Strut” and “Hey Pocky A-Way” along with many more from their eight albums

(Photo: Frankie Cavone)

In more recent times, the original lineup of The Meters performed a handful of shows to honor their legacy including a performance on Jam Cruise in 2017 and Bonnaroo. There has been no statement made related to the cause of Art Neville’s death at this time.