The Meters (later The Funky Meters) are an American funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans by Zigaboo Modeliste (drums), George Porter Jr. (bass), Leo Nocentelli (guitar) and Art Neville (keyboards). The band performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977 and played an influential role as backing musicians for other artists, including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint. Their original songs "Cissy Strut" and "Look-Ka Py Py" are considered funk classics.

While they rarely enjoyed significant mainstream success, they are considered originators of funk along with artists like James Brown, and their work is influential on many other bands, both their contemporaries and modern musicians.

History

1960s–1970s

Art Neville, the group's frontman, launched a solo career around the New Orleans area in the mid-1950s while still in high school. The Meters formed in 1965 with a line-up of keyboardist and vocalist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste. They were joined later by percussionist-vocalist Cyril Neville. The Meters became the house band for Allen Toussaint and his record label, Sansu Enterprises. KVHW, Steve Kimock Band, Widespread Panic,

  • The Meters have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame four times since becoming eligible in 1994: 1996, 2012, 2013 and 2017.
  • George Porter Jr. and The Meters were recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the second annual Jammy Awards in 2001.
  • In 2011, the iconic Meters' song "Cissy Strut" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
  • In 2013, The Meters received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Big Easy Music Awards.
  • The band was featured on the 2017 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's commemorative poster.
  • In January 2018, The Meters were honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Members

Current

  • George Porter Jr. – bass, vocals (1965–1977, 1989–2018, 2020–present)
  • Zigaboo Modeliste – drums, vocals (1965–1977, 2000–2018, 2020–present)–1977, 1989–1994, 2000–2018, 2020–present)
  • "Glen" − drums (1965)

! width="40"|<small>US R&B</small><br>

  • Funky Miracle (1991), Charly CDNEV-2 [2-CD set]
  • The Original Funkmasters (1992), Charly/Instant INS-5066
  • Meters Jam (1992), Rounder CD-2105
  • Fundamentally Funky (1994), Charly CPCD-8044
  • Crescent City Groove Merchants (1994), Charly CPCD-8066
  • Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology (1995), Rhino R2-71869 [2-CD set]
  • Best of the Meters (1996), Mardi Gras MG-1029
  • The Very Best of the Meters (1997), Rhino R2-72642
  • Kickback (2001), Sundazed LP-5081; Sundazed SC-11081
  • The Essentials (2002), Warner Strategic Marketing R2-76074
  • Zony Mash (2003), Sundazed LP-5087; Sundazed SC-6211
  • Here Comes the Meter Man (The Complete Josie Recordings 1968–1970) (2011), Charly SNAX627CD [2-CD set]
  • Original Album Series (2014), Rhino 081227961565 [5-CD set], reissues: Cabbage Alley, Rejuvenation, Fire on the Bayou, Trick Bag, New Directions
  • A Message from the Meters: The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968–1977 (2016), Real Gone Music RGM-0491 [2-CD set]
  • Gettin' Funkier All the Time: The Complete Josie/Reprise & Warner Recordings 1968–1977 (2020), Cherry Red/Soul Music Records QSMCR-5190BX [6-CD set, issued in a clamshell box]

Live albums

  • Uptown Rulers: The Meters live on the Queen Mary (1975 [rel. 1992]), Rhino R2-70376
  • Live at the Moonwalker (1993), Lakeside Music LAKE-2022 – as the 'Legendary Meters', featuring the J.B. Horns
  • Second Helping (Live at the Moonwalker) (1994), Lakeside Music LAKE-2026 – as the 'Legendary Meters'
  • Fiyo at the Fillmore, Volume 1 (2001 [rel. 2003]), Too Funky/Fuel 2000/Varese 030206127522 – as the 'Funky Meters'

Singles

{| class="wikitable"

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! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single

! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

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! style="width:40px;"| <small>US Pop</small><br>

Further reading

  • Ronnie Reese (December 2020). "A Message from the Meters". Waxpoetics.
  • – official site
  • – official site
  • – official site
  • – official site
  • – biography
  • NPR Morning Edition story on The Meters