MARCH
“Uptown” was released during the month of March in 1987, most likely during the latter half of the month.
MARCH 1
On this day in 1994… “Rhythm Country and Blues” (an album featuring duets between R&B and country music artists, performing classic songs) was released. The disc includes a recording of the Patsy Cline classic, “I Fall To Pieces,” performed by Trisha Yearwood and Aaron. https://youtu.be/hiAzW5-__Uw
MARCH 1
On this day in 1995… Yearwood and Aaron received the “Best Country Vocal Collaboration” Grammy for their recording of “I Fall To Pieces,” exactly one year to the day after the song’s release (on the “Rhythm, Country and Blues” LP.)
MARCH 1
“Gospel Roots,” a 2-CD set, compiling tracks from “Devotion” (2000) and “Believe” (2003.) The entire “Believe” album is included as are most of the songs on “Devotion” (except for “There Is Still A Dream,” and “By Heart, By Soul.”) Two additional tracks (“Let It Be” and “Any Day Now”) which were previously heard on the “Devotion” DVD.
If I recall correctly, the set was first made available through some televised home shopping network, featuring the same cover artwork as on the “Believe” CD. It was later released with a more colorful cover.
MARCH 1
“Aaron Neville: Icon” (a budget-priced compilation) was released on this date in 2011. It includes three pre-”Warm Your Heart” recordings and nine tracks from his years with A&M. The only negative reviews of the disc that I’ve ever seen stated that, despite its budget price, it was better to purchase the more thorough “Very Best of” or “Ultimate Collection” instead.
MARCH 2
The Nevilles performed “Sister Rosa” on the Late Show with David Letterman on this day in 1989.
MARCH 3
The Neville Brothers performed “Mona Lisa” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1999 (Info courtesy of Satchmo.com https://www.satchmo.com/nolavl/thisday03.html)
MARCH 4
The PBS special “Aaron Neville: Doo Wop – My True Story” aired for the first time on this day in 2013… 10 years ago today!!! (The show ended up being released on DVD 11 weeks later.) https://www.kpbs.org/…/aaron-neville-doo-wop-my-true-story
MARCH 7
According to the The On A&M Records website (the definitive source for information about past A&M artists and their works while associated with that label) indicates that the “Yellow Moon” LP was released in the USA on this day is 1989 https://www.onamrecords.com/artists/neville-brothers/discography
Other sources show different release dates: AllMusic.com shows a March 14 release date; an album review by Larry Nager of the Cincinnati Post on 2-25-89, indicates that “The first family of New Orleans R&B is back on A&M, and the result, due in stores March 18…” An L.A. Times article from February 25, 1989 stated that, “… Due out March 15, ‘Yellow Moon’ is already being vigorously promoted by A&M Records…”
MARCH 7
On this day in 2006, “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans” (a collaboration between Aaron and a cappella Gospel group, Take 6) was released exclusively on the iTunes digital download service. After 60 days, the recording was made available on other download services as well. It was later included on Take 6’s “The Standard” LP (released on September 30, 2008.)
MARCH 10
Charmaine [Neville] and her band kicked off [WWOZ’s] membership drive on this day in 2020. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=741185443203439
MARCH 15
On this day in 1995, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (a record company, which releases recordings of premium sound quality) released an audiophile CD of “Brother’s Keeper.”
MARCH 15
On this day in 2015, Notre Dame University announced that Aaron would be the recipient of the University’s “2015 Laetare Medal, the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics, at Notre Dame’s 170th University Commencement ceremony May 17 (Sunday).”
https://news.nd.edu/news/grammy-award-winning-singer-aaron-neville-to-receive-notre-dames-2015-laetare-medal/
MARCH 16 & 17
The funky METERS’ “Fiyo At The Fillmore Vol 1” LP was recorded on these two days in 2001. (As we discussed last month, the album was first released in April or May of 2001 on the Funky Meters Records label. Two years later (on February 25, 2003), the disc was re-released on Too Funky Records (with a studio [demo] recording of the song “Too Funky” added as a bonus track.)
MARCH 18
*** GERALD TILLMAN’S BIRTHDAY *** (3/18/55 – 9/15/86)
MARCH 18
According to Satchmo.com https://www.satchmo.com/nolavl/thisday03.html Aaron performed for inmates at the Louisiana State Prison at Angola on this day in 1996.
MARCH 19
Ivan Neville and Mardi Gras Indians were recorded at the Congo Square Rhythms Festival on this day in 2016. Ivan comments on the history of Black Indian recordings (Wild Magnolias and Wild Tchoupitoulas). https://vimeo.com/179256046
MARCH 19
On this day in 1977, The Meters performed “My Name Up In Lights” on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (Season 2 Episode 16). Art and Cyril had left the group by this point, so David Batiste (father of long-time funky METERS drummer, Russell Batiste) filled in on keyboards.
MARCH 19
On this day in 2020, after the nation had been largely shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic for over a year, live music venues were finally permitted to re-open. Ivan was the first musician to perform at Tipitina’s after the months of isolating. https://www.nola.com/multimedia/photos/photos-music-returns-inside-tipitinas-and-the-howlin-wolf/collection_975bcaa2-89ec-11eb-b7f2-cb3c99a695ba.html
MARCH 24
The Meters’ “Uptown Rulers – Live on the Queen Mary” LP (released in 1992) was recorded on this day in 1975 on board the RMS Queen Mary (in Long Beach, CA) at the “Venus and Mars” album release party hosted by Linda and Paul McCartney.
MARCH 25
An Ivan Neville concert, recorded on this day in 2004 at the Crossroads Festival in Bonn, Germany was later aired on the German TV series Rockpalast. It has since been issued on DVD as well as “Ivan Neville’s New Orleans All-Stars – Gettin’ Funkier All The Time.” https://youtu.be/dIbUNvCreEY
MARCH 29
According to satchmo.com … “Lady Marmalade” by vocal group LaBelle hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Chart in 1975; the song was produced by Allen Toussaint and featured backing by The Meters. (Actually, Zigaboo Modeliste did not participate in the recording. Herman “Roscoe” Ernest filled the drum chair on the recording sessions for Labelle’s “Nightbirds” LP, from which “Lady Marmalade” was taken and released as a single.) https://youtu.be/51WQTGH1ixs
MARCH 31
** CHARMAINE NEVILLE’S BIRTHDAY **
MARCH 31
(Per satchmo.com) The Neville Brothers appeared on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in 1999; they performed “Little Piece of Heaven”, from their album, “Valence Street.”
nevilletracks 