Mardi Gras Mambo
Encyclopedia
"Mardi Gras Mambo" is one of the iconic songs frequently played during the New Orleans Mardi Gras
. It was written in 1953 by Frankie Adams and Lou Welsch, and originally recorded as a country and western
single by Jodie Levens. Huey Bourgeois was the original guitarist. It was re-recorded in 1954 by The Hawketts, a group of New Orleans teenage musicians featuring 17-year-old Art Neville
(later of The Meters
) on lead vocals. The Hawketts' version was released on Chess Records
and became a rhythm and blues
hit. "Mardi Gras Mambo" has since been recorded by The Meters, Buckwheat Zydeco
, and many other artists.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
. It was written in 1953 by Frankie Adams and Lou Welsch, and originally recorded as a country and western
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
single by Jodie Levens. Huey Bourgeois was the original guitarist. It was re-recorded in 1954 by The Hawketts, a group of New Orleans teenage musicians featuring 17-year-old Art Neville
Art Neville
Art Neville is an American singer and keyboardist from New Orleans.-History:Neville is a part of one of the most famous musical families of New Orleans, the Neville Brothers...
(later of The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
) on lead vocals. The Hawketts' version was released on Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
and became a rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
hit. "Mardi Gras Mambo" has since been recorded by The Meters, Buckwheat Zydeco
Buckwheat Zydeco
Buckwheat Zydeco is the stage name of Stanley Dural, Jr. , an American accordionist and zydeco musician. He is one of the few zydeco artists to achieve mainstream success...
, and many other artists.
External links
- "The Mambo Kings", Gambit WeeklyGambit WeeklyGambit is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based free alternative weekly newspaper that was established in 1981 as Gambit Weekly. Gambit features reporting about local politics, news, food and drink, arts, music, film, events, environmental issues and other topics, as well as listings...
, Feb. 10, 2004.