Big Chief Roddy

Biography

Jerod “Rody” Lewis, known as Big Chief Roddy or Big Chief Rody, was a prominent Mardi Gras Indian chief from New Orleans, leading the Black Eagles tribe, one of the oldest uptown Mardi Gras Indian tribes alongside the White Eagles and Golden Eagles. Born around 1964, his Indian heritage was rooted in the Calliope housing project (later B.W. Cooper), and he succeeded his father, Percy “Big Chief Pete” Lewis, as leader of the Black Eagles in 1981 following his father's passing. Roddy possessed one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in the Mardi Gras Indian community, often compared to the legendary Big Chief Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias for his strong, charismatic baritone, which he used to chant ancient songs at practices, second line parades, and performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival[1].

Roddy's career highlighted his role in bridging traditional rivalries within the Mardi Gras Indian culture. He was one of the few chiefs to have his vocals featured on commercial releases, singing lead on six of the ten tracks on the landmark 1998 album United We Stand, Divided We Fall by the Indians of the Nation, including a tribute to his father, “Pete Came Early That Mornin’.” This recording was groundbreaking as it united chiefs from uptown and downtown tribes, overcoming longstanding rivalries. Later, he served as an original lead vocalist in the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra alongside figures like Big Chief David Montana and Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes[1][3].

Big Chief Roddy's legacy endures through his contributions to preserving and performing Mardi Gras Indian traditions, particularly in the post-Hurricane Katrina era, where photos from a St. Joseph’s Day parade captured his despair over the razing of his childhood community. He passed away on November 25, 2013, at the age of 49[1].

Fun Facts

• Big Chief Roddy's powerful baritone voice was hailed as the vocal equivalent of legendary Big Chief Bo Dollis in the current generation[1].
• He led the Black Eagles tribe from the Calliope housing project, and post-Katrina photos from a St. Joseph’s Day parade captured his personal grief over the community's destruction[1].
• The album United We Stand, Divided We Fall was remarkable for uniting rival uptown and downtown tribes, with Roddy singing lead on six tracks including a tribute to his father[1][3].
• Roddy was among the few Mardi Gras Indian chiefs to have his vocals commercially recorded[1].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Percy “Big Chief Pete” Lewis - Father and predecessor as Big Chief of the Black Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe (Black Eagles tribe leadership) [Pre-1981]

Key Collaborators

• Big Chief Eugene “Peppy” Estabon - Fellow uptown chief on collaborative album uniting tribes (United We Stand, Divided We Fall (Indians of the Nation)) [1998]
• Big Chief Joe Prieur - Fellow uptown chief (Golden Arrows) on collaborative album (United We Stand, Divided We Fall (Indians of the Nation)) [1998]
• Big Chief “Little” Charles Taylor - Downtown chief (White Cloud Hunters) on collaborative album bridging rivalries (United We Stand, Divided We Fall (Indians of the Nation)) [1998]
• Big Chief Black Feather (Victor Delpit) - Downtown chief collaborator on unified album (United We Stand, Divided We Fall (Indians of the Nation)) [1998]
• Big Chief David Montana - Lead vocalist in Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra (Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra performances) [Early 2010s]
• Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes - Lead vocalist in Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra (Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra performances) [Early 2010s]

External Links

• Spotify