Expects More from an Artist Lections Are of the Second Line Street Coming out of the Service, I Went MR: Your Original Versions of the Funerals and Professor Longhair
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Playboy Band had sold 2.5 million and Allen eventually meet? you not extensively displayed your copies of `Judy In Disguise" at last Marshall Sehorn: In 1957, I moved music before the public in an effort to count. Isaac Hayes is booked for the from North Carolina to New York to boost the sales of your albums? afternoon. At 6 p.m. "Shaft" must work promotion for the Fire and Fury AT: I do not think of myself as a make way for the evening shift when labels. We were handling Bobby great performing artist. I have not Toussaint brings Vicki Sue Robinson Robinson, Elmore James, Arthur "Big spent the time to become one. My in to continue work on her next album Boy" Cruddup and Wilbur Harrison, energies have been spent on writing for which he will be writing several who had a big hit with "Kansas City." and producing because I believe in the of the numbers. In 1960, I was traveling the South on hit record first, performance secona; The burning question was put to promo tours and I met Allen while we the hit song is the front -runner to a Toussaint: While the rest of the music were recording Bobby Marshan's tour. I have not felt justified in world congregates in New York and "Booty Green." Lee Dorsey was touring. I would rather play piano in L.A., why remain detached in signed to the Fury label and Allen and the studio than go out on the road. Louisiana? I crossed paths several times when MR: In searching your discography, "Ya -Ya" was in the works. there was a debut LP in 1960 and a When Allen went into the army in nine year gap until Toussaint was Toussaint: When an artist or record '62, I went to London with EMI to released on Scepter Records. It seems label decides to come to Sea-Saint to work on the Beatles' first tour of the that throughout the first half of the record an album with me it is because U.S. London and I didn't get along too 1960s you were inactive, which I sup- of reasons that cannot be found any- well together so I returned to New pose was due to the service, but during where else. We are not slick, but then Orleans in '65 where Allen was direct- that period I also see the name Naomi there are plenty of studios north of the ing Lee Dorsey's band and "Ride Your Neville pop up frequently as a writer. Mason -Dixon for that. New Orleans Pony" was released. At that time we Who is she? has its own sound, its own color. The formed Sansu Enterprises. AT: Naomi Neville is my mother's pace is completely different and we What do I do? Dash errands, nego- maiden name. I used it as a pen nam3 employ local session men to insure tiate contracts, wash dishes and in the earlier years because of a legal that the feeling is not lost once the handle Allen's personal affairs. I hassle that I had with a publishing studio doors are closed. From time to attend to the details, so I suppose you company I had signed with as a minor. time it has been necessary to travel to might call me the executive producer. When Ernie K -Doe's "Mother -In- the coast, but it is rarely my choice to MR: Where tour of duty usually Law" was released, I had written it for do so ... and I always return home. interrupts most careers, your army another company and someone took MR: The first of your involvements days were most productive. What was notice. The question arose as to where that can be traced was your stint as happening while you were in the my material was supposed to be going, pianist for Shirley and Lee and your service? and because I did not want it to go ta studio work on the Fats Domino cut "I AT: We had formed a group called the first company, I wrote under the Want You To Know" in the early The Stokes and wrote "Java "which name Naomi Neville for the other 1950s. Fill in from the beginning. was picked up by Al Hirt. Following publishing company. AT: I cannot remember when I that was "Whipped Cream" which wasn't a musician. My earliest recol- Herb Alpert did very well with. Expects More from an Artist lections are of the Second Line street Coming out of the service, I went MR: Your original versions of the funerals and Professor Longhair. [For back to work with Lee Dorsey. Aaron songs that you write [seem to] have those interested, Professor Longhair's Neville, whom I had worked with sev- more warmth and emotion than their latest release is: Live on the Queen eral years earlier, brought his brothers more successful commercial rendi- Mary; Harvest, SW- 11790.] My father Cyril and Art along into what became tions. It seems that in your case, the was a trumpeter and my brother plays The Meters in 1967. Aaron dropped public prefers your songs sung by guitar, so music runs in the family. I out, Art played keyboards and Cyril other artists. Glen Campbell's version began as a professional writer and played percussion. Leo Nocentelli of "Southern Nights" far and away pianist in 1955 and three years later I joined to play guitar, Zig Modeliste on outsold your original, yet in many began the slow process of recording drums and George Porter, Jr. on bass. opinions your delivery is superior. material for my first album which was The Meters have become regular ses- How do you react when one of your released in 1960 as The Wild Sounds sion men at Sea -Saint and have songs becomes a colossal hit for Of New Orleans on RCA. worked on my records as well as another artist when it failed to do so It was during this time that Ernie K- recording a list of their own. for you personally? Doe recorded "Mother -In -Law" which Lee Dorsey had a comeback in 1970 AT: I smile quietly ... to myself. It was one of my first big hit songs to be with three singles that I had written is not a public smile, but I am pleased. recorded by another artist. I then went which have been covered by others - They are good artists and they have to work for the Instant and Minit "Yes We Can Can," "Sneaking Sally the right to do something different labels as staff arranger, songwriter, Through The Alley" and "Occapella." with my material that perhaps I would producer and pianist, and worked with MR: In 1973, The Meters and you not choose to do. They are profes- a number of artists including Lee were tagging along with Dr. John on sionals and entitled to their opinions. Dorsey, for example. his European tour, but it seems that in In the case of Glen Campbell and Boz MR: Marshall, during these same recent times you have kept a very low Scaggs, they each took a song that I years, where were you and how did you public performance profile. Why have had written for the mood and lyrical APRIL 1979 69 .