Before I moved from Baltimore to Austin, Texas, I was a HUGE fan of the Neville Brothers. I played Dancin’ Jones to death, I mean needle thru the record, a million times. I also love The Wild Tchoupitoulas record and learned to play all of those great New Orleans classics. Many of the bands I played in played Iko Iko, Fiyo on the Bayou or Hey Pocky Way. When our reggae band, PRESSURE, played at Tipitina’s in New Orleans, often, a Neville or 2 would show up.
One evening our Country band, Stop The Truck, opened for The Nevilles at Liberty Lunch. It was a dream come true for me. After our set, Art Neville said to me “Them harmonies was pretty.” I was on cloud nine for days after that. I loved their playing, their songs and their harmonies so it was high praise for sure.
Art Neville
A while after that I was called by Prince Jaybo Hopkins, the sound man for The Lotions, called and asked me to play rhythm guitar on 2 cds, COMIN’ HOME by New Orleans sax legend, GARY BROWN and TREME SOUL; NEW ORLEANS GUMBO by SAM HENRY JR., also a New Orleans legend, music teacher for Etta James, Allen Toussaint and the Nevilles. I could not have been more thrilled. I was honored to play those sessions.
Cyril was on Sam’s session and we had cut a few tracks over a couple of days. On the second day Cyril walked in, pointed at me and told the room…”That cat got soul!” and then, to me. “I gotta get yo number!”
Man, that was pure delight. I’ll never forget it.
Cyril Neville
Gary Brown…my friend
Sam Henry Jr….a true master. (R.I.P)
My Entertaining Life-Steve Carter 