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Aaron Neville (born January 24, 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American soul and R&B singer. He made his debut in 1966 with the hit single "Tell It Like It Is", a Number One hit on the Billboard R&B charts. Neville did not chart again, however, until 1989, when he collaborated with Linda Ronstadt on three consecutive duets: "Don't Know Much", "All My Life", and "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby", of which the first two reached Number One on the Adult Contemporary charts.
To date, Aaron has released more than twenty singles, including three Number Ones on the Adult Contemporary format, and a fourth on the R&B format.
Aaron Neville: Career
Aaron Neville has had a career as a solo artist and as one of the Neville Brothers. Of mixed African American and Native American heritage, his music also features Cajun influence.
With his solo career, Neville is best known for his Grammy-winning 1989 duets with Linda Ronstadt, "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life," as well as his first - and to date his biggest - hit, 1966's "Tell It Like It Is," which was covered by Heart in 1980.
His other hits have included "Everybody Plays the Fool," his successful 1991 cover of the 1972 Main Ingredient soul classic; "Don't Take Away My Heaven", "Hercules" and "Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song)." Neville's biggest solo successes have been on the Adult Contemporary chart, where "Don't Know Much," "All My Life," and "Everybody Plays The Fool" all reached Number One.
In August 2005 his home in Eastern New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina; he evacuated to Memphis, Tennessee before the hurricane hit. He has yet to return to the city, causing the New Orleans Jazz Fest to change its tradition of having the Neville Brothers close the festival. Neville performed Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927" during NBC's A Concert for Hurricane Relief on September 2, 2005.
Aaron signed to SonyBMG's new Burgundy Records label in late 2005 and recorded an album of great classic soul songs by Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and others for Bring It on Home!The Soul Classics, released on September 19th, 2006. The album, produced by Stewart Levine, features collaborations between Aaron and Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, Chris Botti, David Sanborn, Art Neville, and others. The album's first single was a remake of The Impressions' 1963 classic "It's All Right."
Neville's career has included work for television, movies and sporting events. Neville sang the U.S. National Anthem in the movie The Fan starring Robert DeNiro and Wesley Snipes. He also sang the anthem at the WWF's SummerSlam 1993 and at WCW Spring Stampede in 1994. Neville sang the theme music to the children's TV series Fisher-Price Little People. He also sang a new version of "Cotton," for Cotton, Inc. which was introduced during the 1992 Summer Olympics, . In 1988 he recorded Mickey Mouse March for Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films, one of Various Artists. In 2006, Neville sang "The Star-Spangled Banner", alongside singer Aretha Franklin and Dr John on keyboard at Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
Aaron made a guest appearance on an episode of the soap opera The Young and the Restless on October 27, 2006. He sang the classic hits "Stand By Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine", from his new album, Bring It on Home!The Soul Classics.
Neville's son Ivan Neville is also a musician and released an album, If My Ancestors Could See Me Now, in 1988, which yielded a Top 40 hit with "Not Just Another Girl." Ivan has also performed with the Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt, and played bass for Keith Richards on his first solo tour.
Aaron Neville: Spiritual life
Aaron Neville is a Roman Catholic with a devotion to St. Jude, to whom he has credited his success and survival. He wears a St. Jude Medal as a left earring. |
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