Joe Barry (died 08/31/2004; age 65)
Swamp pop legend from Cut Off, LA (born Joseph Barrios) had a national hit in 1961 with "I'm A Fool To Care", which hit #15 on the R&B Chart and #24 on the Pop Chart. See tribute page (Pershing Wells); bio & discography; obit from the Independent (UK).
David Bickham (died 07/25/2004; New Orleans; age 66)
Percussionist worked with Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Original Crescent City Jazz Band, and many others.
Leroy Breaux (died 02/14/2004; New Orleans; age 61)
Algiers native kept the beat on snare drum for the Olympia Brass Band for 23 years..
Olivia "Lady Charlotte" Cook (died 11/09/2004; New Iberia; age 91)
Jazz pianist and vocalist worked with Papa French, Wallace Davenport, Danny Barker, and many others. Also led her own bands (Lady Charlotte's Jazz Band,; Lady Charlotte and Her Men of Rhythm), performing regularly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
(Earvis Joseph) E.J. Courvelle (died 02/12/2004; New Iberia; age 55)
Cankton, LA native performed with The Cankton Cajuns band for 20+ years.
Earl Dantin (died 09/22/2004; Metairie; age 93)
Musician and singer founded The Esquires, performing at the Court of Two Sisters, the Prevue Lounge, Monteleone Hotel, and other local nightspots.
Wallace Davenport (died 03/18/2004; New Orleans; age 78)
Jazz trumpeter's 60+ year career included stints with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Oscar "Papa" Celestin, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Ray Charles, Lloyd Price, and many others. See AMG bio; profile (Word document) from netmaximus.com.
Russell Deville (died 08/27/2004; Opelousas; age 72)
Cajun musician performed with the Ville Platte Playboys and the Goldman Thibodeaux Band.
Rob Edralin (died 06/04/2004; New Orleans; age 43)
Local artist and musician.
Willie Egan (died 08/05/2004; Inglewood, CA; age 70)
Noted R&B pianist & vocalist from Minden, LA recorded several gems
in the mid-1950's for the Elko (as Willie Egans & His House Rockers), Mambo (as Lloyd & Willie, Willie Eggins & Orchestra, and Willie Egans), Vita, and Spry (Little Willie Egans) labels; see Willie Egan obit from the Independent (UK).
Johnny Faulk (died 10/17/2004; Lake Charles; age 79)
Bass player with the famed Hackberry Ramblers since 1979. See Hackberry Ramblers web site.
Norris "Boboy" Fontenot (died 03/18/2004; Ville Platte; age 67)
Cajun musician performed with the Ville Platte Playboys.
Harold Herty Fortmayer (died 05/25/2004)
Trumpeter played with his dad's jazz band (Edward G. Fortmayer Band), the Celotex Band, Martin Clancy Band, and Leon Kelner (at the Blue Room).
Rahmeen Omar Gioustover (died 08/06/2004; New Orleans; age 23)
Local hip hop artist performed with the Hard Hitters rap group.
Andrew James "Naughty" Holmes (died 09/01/2004; New Orleans; age 19)
Local musician was a member of the Money Rules rap group.
Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet (died 07/22/2004; Queens, NY; age 81)
Tenor sax legend from Broussard, Louisiana came to fame with Lionel Hampton's big band in 1941 with his rockin' sax solo on the classic "Flying Home." See AMG bio and Washington Post obit.
Waldren "Frog" Joseph (died 09/19/2004; New Orleans; age 86)
Trad jazz trombone great had been active on the local music scene for over 60 years, including stints with Joe Robichaux, Papa Celestin, Paul Barbarin, Harold Dejan, and others. Frog was the father of musicans Charles and Kirk Joseph (of Dirty Dozen Brass Band fame). See Guardian UK obit and partial discography.
Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen (died 01/11/2004; New Orleans; age 53)
Tuba player was a fixture on the local brass band scene for 40 years: Lacen could be found performing in Jackson Square, Preservation Hall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and at music venues around the world. See Big Man on the Square (Gambit Weekly); Tuba Fats music; jazz funeral photos (Gumbo Pages).
Gary LeBlanc (died 07/12/2004; Lafayette; age 48)
Lafayette musician (with Point of View, the Chill Pills) and special education teaching aide died after his car was struck from behind at a stop sign. The driver of the other vehicle was charged with vehicular homicide, careless operation and OWI (operating while intoxicated).
Larry Logan (died 11/10/2004; Lafayette; age 77)
Harmonica player performed on concert stages around the world. Logan also worked with show biz legends including Bob Hope, Rudy Vallee, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Durante, Cab Calloway, etc. See Pouring Rain Larry Logan web site and his book, Logan's Run: The Life and Times of Larry Logan.
Marco Mannino (died 06/04/2004; Slidell; age 52)
Trumpeter and music educator played with the Frankie Mann Orchestra, Crescent River Big Band, The Jazz Professors, Lee Elgart Orchestra, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, and many others.
Joseph Martin Jr. (died 12/19/2004; Metairie; age 84)
New Orleans native performed with the Princes of Dixieland for 17 years.
(Curtis) Curt Mouton Sr. (died 02/02/2004; Lafayette; age 72)
Noted piano & organ player worked with Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and others; also led his own trio for many years on the West Coast before returning to his native Lafayette.
Raful Neal (died 09/01/2004; Baton Rouge; age 68)
Bluesman and Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame inductee was the patriarch of a family of blues musicians (including son Kenny Neal). Neal was a fixture on the Baton Rouge music scene since age 17. See bio 1; bio 2; music & bio.
Ronnie "Snoop" Neal (died 04/21/2004; Baton Rouge; age 41)
Singer and drummer was a member of the famed Neal family of blues musicians (son of Raful Neal, brother of Kenny).
Carol Rachou Sr. (died 01/29/2004; Lafayette; age 71)
Musician and producer founded La Louisianne Recording Studio and the La Louisianne record label in Lafayette in the 1950's. See La Louisianne web site.
Wilbert Rawlins Sr., aka Wilbert Widow (died 06/06/2004; New Orleans; age 59)
Longtime drummer (1977-2002) for Irma Thomas and the Professionals also worked with Tommy Ridgley, Lionel Hampton, Ray Charles, Carlos Santana, Smokey Robinson, Wynton Marsalis, B.B. King and others.
Adam "Razor Blade" Robertson (died 01/19/2004; St. Martinville; age 61)
Zydeco musician worked with Major Handy, Clifton Chenier, Fernest Arceneaux, Bobby Price, Rockin' Dopsie, and others.
Herbert Sam aka Good Rockin' Sam (died 05/21/2004; Opelousas; age 80)
Accordionist and Zydeco pioneer from Grand Coteau, LA. He was the brother of late musician Ambrose Sam. Sons Leon, Carl, Glen, Calvin and Rodney performed in the 70's and 80's as The Sam Brothers 5. See Herbert Sam MP3 audio clips.
Joseph Stephens (died 04/05/2004; New Orleans; age 74)
Jazz beat keeper from New Orleans musical family; Father "Papa Joe" Stephens and grandfather "Ragbaby" Stephens were also noted drummers.
Johnnie "Kool" Stevenson (died 05/17/2004; New Orleans; age 56)
Second line fixture and flag boy for the Wild Magnolias; also performed with the Wild Magnolias funk band. See brief bio.
Freddie Williams (died 05/22/2004; New Orleans; age 56)
Longtime singer with Irving Bannister's All Stars.
Joseph "Shotgun Joe" Williams (died 08/03/2004; New Orleans; age 22)
Trombonist with the Hot 8 Brass Band. See band's web site.
(Huary Perry) U.P. Wilson (died 09/22/2004; Paris, France; age 70)
Louisiana-born Texas-based blues guitarist. The late Stevie Ray Vaughan called Wilson, "My greatest guitar inspiration for real blues". See bio & discography.
DJ known as the "Godfather of Zydeco" was the first to have a radio show dedicated to Zydeco. See Zydeco Online web site.
Gospel music pioneer with the Chuck Wagon Gang was the widow of singer, songwriter and former Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis.
Retail music exec started at The Mushroom (Tulane University) in 1970 before opening the uptown music shop, Bayou Records & Goods.
Producer and promoter managed rock legend Frankie Ford for more than 35 years. See brief bio.
Jazz trumpeter and Wilmington, Delaware native was a fixture on the local trad jazz scene for many years, most notably with the Preservation Hall band. See Louisiana Music Factory.
Patriarch of the famed Marsalis family of jazz musicians, including son, Ellis Jr., and grandsons Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis.
Jazz musician, educator and Detroit native relocated to New Orleans in 1975, where he mentored many future stars including Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Terrance Blanchard and Donald Harrison. Metcalf also acted occasionally, including a role in the Ray Charles bio, "Ray."
Bluegrass legend who founded the Country Gentlemen grew up in Lake Charles. He also performed on the Louisiana Hayride in the mid-50's with Louisiana native Buzz Busby. See Country Gentlemen web site.
Former member of vocal group the Ink Spots (1945 - late 1960's); performed locally at Palm Court, House of Blues, and other venues.
Musician & comedian played bass with Hank Williams and his Driftin' Cowboys in the 1940's, including Williams's stint at the Louisiana Hayride in 1948-49. See article by Katy Walls.
Funky French Quarter bar and music venue resurfaced as One-Eyed Jacks, in location previously occupied by The Shim Sham Club.
Warehouse District hot spot closed in December after a 10 year run at the corner of Constance and John Churchill Chase. Club may reopen this year in former Warehouse Pizza space on Andrew Higgins Dr.