In a city of originals, Bo Dollis stood out.

Over the last half century, he was an integral part of the Black New Orleans tradition of Mardi Gras Indians as Big Chief of the Wild Magnolias. He was an enormous contributor to the changes that took place in the Mardi Gras Indians during that time, and he brought awareness of the Indians from Central City to the world at large.

He was born on January 14, 1944 with an extraordinary gift, an ability to sing that was apparent from early childh...