Issue Articles — Obituaries
Obituary: Bobby Lonero (1943-2013)
Robert “Bobby” Lonero, a Louisiana Hall of Fame musician and long-popular New Orleans bandleader, died February 17, 2013. According to fellow New Orleans recording artist Frankie Ford, Lonero’s given surname […]
Obituary: Hadley Castille (1933-2012)
Cajun swing fiddler Hadley J. Castille passed away on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at an Opelousas nursing home due to an inoperable brain tumor. He was 79. During Castille’s eight-decade music career, […]
Obituary: Bob French (1938-2012)
Drummer Bob French was such a forceful personality that his reputation as a controversial WWOZ disc jockey actually overshadows his most important accomplishment, leading the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band. French […]
Obituary: James “Sugar Boy” Crawford (1934-2012)
One of the pioneers of early New Orleans rhythm and blues, James “Sugar Boy” Crawford died September 15, after a brief illness. He was 77. Although, like many of his […]
Obituary: “Uncle” Lionel Batiste (1931-2012)
Of all the colorful char-actors who’ve populated the streets of New Orleans over the years, Uncle Lionel Batiste takes the cake. Uncle Lionel patrolled the banquette along lower Decatur and […]
Obituary: Gary Hirstius (1956-2012)
Kim Carson was playing her Monday gig at Kerry Irish Pub on a stifling night in late May when she offered a tribute to her departed friend Gary Hirstius. Carson […]
Obituary: Ernest McLean (1926-2012)
Ernest McLean, a musician considered by many the best guitarist ever produced in New Orleans, died in Los Angeles February 24 at age 85. He started playing guitar when he […]
Obituary: Larry Hamilton (1951-2011)
Larry Hamilton, a singer/songwriter who might be best known for a self-titled 1997 NYNO CD produced by Allen Toussaint, died December 28, 2011. Born in Galveston, Texas, March 23, 1951, […]
Obituary: Michael Aaron (1962-2011)
Some guitarists like myself don’t have that fluid, natural style that some are born with, no matter how hard they practice. Michael Aaron was born with it. The first time […]
Six Degrees of Coco Robicheaux
Debbie Davis stood just inside the doorway of Three Muses, singing “When I’m 64.” It was Friday night on Frenchmen Street, the day after Thanksgiving, and she held the festive […]
