Art ... got his start playing piano with the Hawkettes, who in 1954 recorded the Carnival anthem “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Three years later, he slgned with Specialty Records and recorded the rock and roll classms “Cha Dookey Doo” and “Zlng Zing.” After a stint in the Navy, in 1962 he was contracted by Instant Records where he enjoyed a huge regional hit with a superb Allen Toussaint ballad, “All These Things.”
In the mid 1960s, Art formed the Neville Sounds, a group which would eventually become the Meters. For a funky decade, the Meters were New Orleans’ most valuable musical resource, both on their own and in collaboration with other artists. In the 19705, the Meters redefined rhythm the same way Booker T. and the MGs had in the previous decade. Some fans and writers have gone as far as claiming the Meters were the inventors of funk. Besides making their own records, producer Allen Toussaint used the Meters as his rhythm section when he produced visiting artists such as Robert Palmer, Albert King, Etta James, the Pointer Sisters, Paul McCartney, and LaBelle. (Jeff Hannusch, The Soul of New Orleans: A Legacy of Rhythm and Blues p. 297) Iconic. File under: New Orleans Masters
Discography: Singles Compilations; Other contributions The Meters The Neville Brothers
In the music library: Christmas Gumbo: Christmas Gumbo City Of Dreams: Ivory Emperors: My Children;
The Cosimo Matassa Story: Oooh-Wee Baby; Back Home To Me; Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky: All These Things;
Heavy Sugar: The Pure Essence Of New Orleans R&B: Cha Dooky Doo; Zing Zing; New Orleans Funk Vol.2: Bo Diddley
Links: Wikipedia Facebook AllMusic Discogs Meter Men: An OffBeat Interview With Art Neville And George Porter, Jr.