Aaron Neville

Biography

Aaron Joseph Neville was born on January 24, 1941, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Arthur Neville, a merchant marine sailor, and his mother Amelia. Growing up in poverty, Aaron discovered his vocal talent early, singing his way into movies and basketball games. He learned his craft from the homemade doo-wop group that his older brother Art started with friends during the doo-wop era. However, his early career was derailed when he was arrested for car theft in 1958 and spent six months in prison—a wake-up call that motivated him to pursue music seriously. After prison, he married his sweetheart and began his solo career, though he struggled with heroin addiction and spent another year in prison for burglary before returning to New Orleans determined to succeed.

Neville's breakthrough came in 1966 with "Tell It Like It Is," which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B chart for five weeks in 1967, selling over one million copies. Despite this success, he received no royalties and worked as a ditch digger and dockworker to support his family. After his mother's death in 1975, he overcame his addiction and reunited with his brothers Art, Charles, and Cyril to form the Neville Brothers in 1977. His career experienced a major renaissance in 1989 through collaborations with Linda Ronstadt on the album "Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind," which produced the Grammy-winning number-one hits "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life." Throughout the 1990s, he achieved three consecutive RIAA platinum-selling albums and topped the Billboard Jazz chart with "Nature Boy: The Standards Album."

Renowned for his distinctively smooth, vibrato-heavy tenor voice, Neville's genre-crossing career spans R&B, soul, gospel, jazz, country, and pop. Of mixed African American, Native American, and European heritage, his music incorporates Cajun and Creole influences. He has earned four Grammy Awards, including a 2023 win for Best American Roots Performance for "Stompin' Ground" with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He has performed the national anthem at two Super Bowls, including a 2006 rendition alongside Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, and was named one of Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023. His enduring influence across multiple musical genres, combined with his remarkable vocal refinement often compared to Sam Cooke, has cemented his legacy as one of America's most distinctive voices.

Fun Facts

• NPR once described his voice as singing "like an angel who swallowed a wah-wah pedal," capturing the unique combination of his smooth tenor and distinctive vibrato.
• As a child growing up in poverty, he would sing his way into movies and basketball games for free admission, with whoever was at the door saying, 'All right, Neville, sing me a song, and I'll let you in.'
• Despite "Tell It Like It Is" reaching number two on the charts and selling over one million copies, Neville received no royalties—only a flat fee for the recording session—forcing him to work as a ditch digger and dockworker to support his family. His son recalled they were "eating mayonnaise sandwiches" and didn't even have a refrigerator, just an ice chest.
• He has performed the United States national anthem at the Super Bowl on two occasions, including a memorable 2006 performance alongside legendary artists Aretha Franklin and Dr. John.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Sam Cooke - Greatest vocal influence; Aaron was inspired by Cooke's smooth gospel singing style as a young teenager, contrasting with the loud and preachy gospel singers common in the South (Gospel recordings) [1950s]
• Allen Toussaint - Legendary producer who worked with Neville on his breakthrough hit ("Tell It Like It Is")
• Art Neville - Older brother who started a homemade doo-wop group with friends, teaching Aaron his craft (Early doo-wop performances) [1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Linda Ronstadt - Duet partner who helped revitalize his career with Grammy-winning collaborations ("Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind" album featuring "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life")
• The Neville Brothers - Family band with brothers Art, Charles, and Cyril; Aaron was a founding member while maintaining solo career (The Neville Brothers albums and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival performances) [1977-onwards]
• Trisha Yearwood - Duet partner on notable compilation ("Rhythm, Country and Blues" compilation) [1990s]
• Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Collaborators on Grammy-winning recording ("Stompin' Ground")
• Don Was and Keith Richards - Producers of his tribute album to early influences ("My True Story" album featuring "Tears on my Pillow," "This Magic Moment," and "Under the Boardwalk")

Artists Influenced

• Ivan Neville - Son who became a singer and keyboard player, carrying on the family's musical legacy (Various recordings as singer/keyboards player) [1980s-onwards]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Don't Know Much (with Aaron Neville) (Cry Like a Rainstorm Howl Like the Wind)
2. Tell It Like It Is (Soul Feeling)
3. Tell It Like It Is
4. Tell It Like It Is
5. All My Life (with Aaron Neville) - 1999 Remaster (Cry Like a Rainstorm Howl Like the Wind)
6. Hercules (Tell It Like It Is)
7. The Weight - Live
8. Don't Know Much (feat. Aaron Neville) - 2015 Remaster
9. Everybody Plays The Fool (Warm Your Heart)
10. Even If My Heart Would Break (Breathless)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #1980s, #1990s, #2000s