Cyril Garrett Neville (born October 10, 1948) is an American percussionist and vocalist who first came to prominence as a member of his brother Art Neville's funky New Orleans–based band, The Meters. He joined Art in the Neville Brothers band upon the dissolution of the Meters.
Career He has appeared on recordings by Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Edie Brickell, Willie Nelson, Dr. John and The New Orleans Social Club among others.
Neville is interviewed on screen and appears in performance footage with The Neville Brothers in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz. In the film, the band performs "Fire on the Bayou" with guests Ivan and Ian Neville. Neville was also featured in the 2006 documentary film New Orleans Music in Exile.
In 2005, Neville joined up with Tab Benoit for the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars to bring awareness to Louisiana's rapid loss of wetlands along the Gulf Coast. The band also features Waylon Thibodeaux, Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, George Porter Jr., Johnny Vidacovich, and Dr. John. The band has become a main feature at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
After Hurricane Katrina he moved to Austin, Texas, but as of 2012 lives in Slidell, Louisiana. Soul Rebels Brass Band featured Neville as a special guest on their Rounder Records debut record, Unlock Your Mind, released on January 31, 2012. The Soul Rebels' name was conceived by Neville at the New Orleans venue Tipitina's, where the band was opening.
In 2010, Neville joined popular New Orleans funk band Galactic. He put aside his solo career to tour internationally with the band.
In 2012, Cyril Neville joined forces with Devon Allman (son of Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band), award-winning blues-rock guitarist Mike Zito, bassist Charlie Wooton, and Grammy-winning drummer Yonrico Scott to form Royal Southern Brotherhood, a blues-rock supergroup.
Citations "Cyril Neville may be the youngest of the Neville Brothers, the first family of New Orleans rock and R&B, but he has just made his best album". – Billboard "a refreshingly original approach to the music" (*** 1/2) – Chicago Sun-Times
Discography 1994: The Fire This Time (Endangered Species) with The Uptown Allstars 1998: Soulo (Endangered Species) solo album 2000: New Orleans Cookin''' (Endangered Species) solo album 2003: For The Funk Of It (Kongo Square) with The Uptown Allstars 2007: The Healing Dance (Jomar/Silk) with Tribe 13 2009: Brand New Blues (M.C.) solo album 2012: Royal Southern Brotherhood (Ruf) with Royal Southern Brotherhood 2012: Live in Germany (Ruf) with Royal Southern Brotherhood 2013: Magic Honey (Ruf) solo album 2014: Heartsoulblood (Ruf) with Royal Southern Brotherhood 2015: Don't Look Back (Ruf) with Royal Southern Brotherhood 2026: Don't Wait Til I'm Gone solo album
Awards and honors As a member of the Neville Brothers, Cyril won the 1989 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the song "Healing Chant".
In 1996, he and his brothers were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the song "Fire on the Mountain".
They were also nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for the album Valence Street.
In 2014, Neville (as a solo) was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Contemporary Blues Album of the Year' category for his album Magic Honey''.
References
External links
Cyril Neville at Nolamusic.net