Friday, March 20, 2009
Eddie Bo passes
Posted by Alison Fensterstock on Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 7:46 PM
New Orleans piano legend Eddie Bo has passed away at age 78. Spokesperson Karen Hamilton confirmed that the musician died late Wednesday night of a massive heart attack. No funeral arrangements are available to the press at this time.
Bo, whose real name was Edwin Bocage, was a fantastically versatile pianist whose skills created the bridge between New Orleans R&B and funk. He was less known for his contributions as a producer. Signed to Joe Ruffino’s Ric label in 1959, Eddie Bo scouted, arranged, produced and wrote for artists there including Irma Thomas, Tommy Ridgely, Robert Parker and Johnny Adams. A jack of all trades, Bo even built a small studio for Ruffino behind his office. In the early ‘60s, Bo recorded for several labels, including Scram, Rip, and the visionary AFO records (the AFO Combo backed him on his local dance hit “Check Mr. Popeye,” sometimes using the alias ‘Roy Ward’ or recording with Chris Kenner, ‘Candy Phillips’. He eventually signed to Joe Banashak’s family of labels in 1966, where he produced artists including Art Neville and Oliver Morgan.
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Coco Robicheaux, 1947-2011
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Comments (3)
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And the hits just keep coming. Eddie Bo, Antoinette K-Doe, Snooks... Can we just reboot 2009?
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2009 is no joke! I had a friend Carolyn. We had a major falling out, don't speak anymore. But during our brief fun friendship, she insisted that I meet her friends Eddie Bo and Snooks Eaglin. She said, "they're gonna be gone one day, probably very soon. We need to see them as much as possible and let them know we love them." If for nothing else, that relationship was good for fulfilling her prophesy. I feel expanded, enriched, like I made human contact with a great star, having enjoyed the company of these two talented elders. Their presence helped repair the world. mip'nei tikkun ha-olammip'nei tikkun ha-olam
