Art Neville | en

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

Neville is a part of one of the most famous musical families of New Orleans, the Neville Brothers. He was also a founding member of The Meters, and also continues to play with the spinoff group the The Funky Meters.
As a session musician, he 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. His daughter, Arthel Neville is a journalist and television personality.


-Septuagenarian keyboardist & vocalist Art Neville aka "Poppa Funk" is an R&B legend from New Orleans, who founded the Hawkettes and had a solo career on Specialty records in the late 1950's before becoming a founding member of influential funk & soul group The Meters in the late 1960's. In 1976, he collaborated on the "The Wild Tchoupitoulas," album which he and his brothers made with their uncle Big Chief Jolly (George Landry) shortly before officially billing themselves as The Neville Brothers. Prior to the success he had with The Neville Brothers who reached their commercial peak in the 1980's & 90's under management of Bill Graham, Art had played on numerous hit records, including some produced by Allen Toussaint like Lee Dorsey's "Working in a Coal Mine" and Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time".

Art is the eldest Neville brother and continues to perform regularly with the post-Katrina super group New Orleans Social Club which features a revolving cast of Nawlins heavy hitters ranging from Irma Thomas to his brother Aaron Neville. Art is also a member of the touring group known as the Funky Meters (now featuring his son Ian Neville on guitar) and he played a rare solo show at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. .