Arthur Lanon Neville—“Poppa Funk”—a keyboardist, New Orleans music icon and downright great individual, died July 22 after several years of declining health. He was 81.

Jerry Wexler once described Neville’s ensemble playing “as close to perfect as funk can get.” In addition to an early successful solo career, Neville founded the brilliant funk groups the Meters and the Neville Brothers. Among his many accolades, he won ...