The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art (1937–2019), Charles (1938–2018), Aaron (b. 1941), and Cyril (b. 1948) came together to take part in the recording session of the Wild Tchoupitoulas, a Mardi Gras Indian group led by the Nevilles' uncle, George Landry ("Big Chief Jolly").[1]
Their debut album The Neville Brothers was released in 1978 on Capitol Records.[2]
Also in 1990, they appeared on the bill at that year's Glastonbury Festival.[5] Due to Art Neville devoting more time to his other act, The Meters, the band kept a low profile in the late 1990s onto the early 2000s. They made a comeback in 2004, however, with the album, Walkin' in the Shadow of Life, on Back Porch Records, their first newly recorded effort in five years.[6]
All brothers except Charles, a Massachusetts resident, had been living in New Orleans, but following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Cyril and Aaron moved out of the city. Aaron moved to Austin briefly at the invitation on his friend, the late blues club impresario, Clifford Antone. They had not been performing in New Orleans since Katrina hit the city; however, they finally returned to perform there at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2008, being given the closing spot which had been reserved for them for years.[7][8]
The group formally disbanded in 2012 but reunited in 2015 for a farewell concert in New Orleans.[11] Charles Neville died of pancreatic cancer on April 26, 2018, at the age of 79.[12] Art Neville died on July 22, 2019, at the age of 81. A cause of death was not provided.[13]
^"IAJE What's Going On". Jazz Education Journal. 37 (5). Manhattan, Kansas: International Association of Jazz Educators: 87. April 2005. ISSN1540-2886. ProQuest1370090.
^Make It Funky! (DVD). Culver City, California: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2005. ISBN9781404991583. OCLC61207781. 11952.