Neville recalls his day on the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” playing in a band called Turquoise with his brother Art and friends. In small clubs, radiating out from Memphis, he played with music icons like Jimmy Reed and B.B. King. In New Orleans at the Dew Drop Inn, he shared the stage with Allen Toussaint and Huey “Piano” Smith. Living in New York intoduced him to major saxophone players like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and, Neville’s personal inspiration, Louis Jordan. The Neville Brothers (Cyril, Aaron, Art and Charles) established their reputation as the First Family of Funk with the release of TREACHEROUS in 1986 which includes Aaron Neville’s chart topper, “Tell It Like It Is” and “Fever” featuring Charles Neville on sax. Charles Neville went on to win a Grammy for “Healing Chant” on the Yellow Moon CD in 1989. His own band Diversity performs at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festivals and continues to record.
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Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum in collaboration with the BSO’s Office of Education and Community Programs, offering ongoing support to the Library Arts Series.
Filed under: Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum Tagged: | Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, musical performance
