The Wild Tchoupitoulas brought the secret world of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians to a national audience with their landmark 1976 self-titled album — a recording that merged the chants and rhythms of the Indian tradition with the funk power of the Neville Brothers band to create something that sounded like nothing else in American music.
Biography
The Wild Tchoupitoulas were led by Big Chief Jolly — George Landry, uncle of the Neville Brothers — and their 1976 album, produced with the Neville Brothers and Allen Toussaint, was the first time the Mardi Gras Indian tradition had been documented with full production values and wide distribution. The record is both a cultural document of extraordinary importance and a deeply funky, wildly joyful listening experience. Tracks like 'Brother John' and 'Hey Pocky A-Way' introduced the Indian chant tradition to listeners worldwide and became foundational texts for anyone seeking to understand New Orleans' most distinctive and secretive musical culture. The album remains one of the essential recordings in the New Orleans canon.
Discography
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