The Hawketts

Biography

The Hawketts were an American R&B combo formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the early 1950s by a group of teenage musicians from the African American community. Comprised of Art Neville on lead vocals and piano (age 16 at the time), George Davis on alto sax, Alfred August on guitar, Israel Bell on trumpet, August Fleuri on trumpet, Carroll Joseph on trombone, Morris 'Moe' Bachemin on tenor sax, and John Boudreaux on drums, the band notably lacked a bass player, as the members were unaware it was conventional.[1][3] In 1953, they recruited Neville, who had been involved in high school doo-wop groups influenced by acts like the Clovers, the Spiders, Fats Domino, and Professor Longhair.[3][4]

The group's career peaked with their 1954 recording of 'Mardi Gras Mambo,' a song originally written in 1953 by Frankie Adams, Ken Elliot, and Lou Welsh (sometimes listed as Lou Welsch), which they adapted into an R&B hit with rhumba and Caribbean influences reflective of early New Orleans R&B. Recorded in January 1954 at local radio station WWEZ using just two microphones, the single on Chess Records became an iconic Carnival classic.[1][2] The Hawketts quickly became one of the hottest bands in New Orleans, performing at sororities, fraternities, nightclubs, and various functions.[3]

Following the success of their sole major release, most original members departed, but Art Neville kept a version of the band going briefly before his Navy service in the late 1950s. The Hawketts' legacy endures through 'Mardi Gras Mambo's' status as a New Orleans staple, launching Neville toward fame with the Meters and Neville Brothers, cementing their place in the city's R&B and funk heritage.[1][3][4]

Fun Facts

• The band had no bass player because, as drummer John Boudreaux later recalled, 'We didn't know that a band was supposed to have a bass player.'[1]
• 'Mardi Gras Mambo' was originally a 1953 country song by Jody Levens, rewritten by Frankie Adams and Lou Welsh (or Welsch) before the Hawketts' R&B adaptation.[2]
• The recording was made in January 1954 at New Orleans radio station WWEZ using only two microphones.[2]
• All members were teenagers during the 1954 recording, with Art Neville just 16 years old on lead vocals.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Fats Domino - stylistic influence on early doo-wop and pianism (local New Orleans favorites) [early 1950s]
• Professor Longhair - influence on pianism (New Orleans piano style) [early 1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Art Neville - lead vocals, piano, and key member who kept band going after others left ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• John Boudreaux - drummer and band member ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• George Davis - alto sax player ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• Alfred August - guitarist ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• Israel Bell - trumpet player ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• August Fleuri - trumpet player ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• Carroll Joseph - trombone player ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]
• Morris 'Moe' Bachemin - tenor sax player ('Mardi Gras Mambo' (1954)) [1953-1954]

Artists Influenced

• The Meters - Art Neville's experience as leader and performer directly led to forming this influential funk band (albums like 'Fire on the Bayou', 'Cissy Strut') [1960s-1970s]
• Neville Brothers - Neville family band formed after Art's early career foundation with Hawketts (various albums from late 1970s-2012) [1970s-2012]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia