Pianist, songwriter, and singer Eddie Bo was a familiar (and prolific) fixture of the New Orleans music scene, beloved for his blend of jazz, funk, blues, and soul, and for his songs that became hits for legendary artists. Born in New Orleans on September 20, 1930, Bo was raised in a musical family that was also adept at skilled labor, a talent set he returned to later in life when he stepped away from music. He performed as a sideman for several years before debuting his own material in 1955, beginning with the single “Baby”. Later songs were adapted by musicians like Little Richard (“I’m Wise” became “Slippin’ and Slidin’”) and Etta James (“My Dearest Darling”). His novelty single “Check Mr. Popeye”, complete with references to the cartoon, became a signature tune.
Bo delved more into funk and jazz as his career went on, and had success with the single “Hook and Sling, Pts. 1 & 2” in 1969. The song became a source of mild controversy 45 years later when Bo’s emphatic “Oh!” was sampled on Jay-Z’s “Run This Town”, but a judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against Jay-Z’s label. Bo gradually stepped away from music as the ‘70s went on, but he remained a regular on the New Orleans scene and at regional festivals. He was still touring and recording in the years immediately preceding his death from a heart attack on March 18, 2009.
