I don't know how many of us (other than Googamooga and myself) are familiar with this particular genre of music, but it's one of my personal favorites. The Mardi Gras Indian tradition is a Mardi Gras celebration, started by African Americans during the 1800s (I believe) in which they dress as Native Americans and sing (or chant) and dance, with music that is greatly influenced by the African music brought to the USA by slaves and Native American music. Many claim that the reason behind the tradition is that it is a way for African Americans to pay homage to the Native Americans who frequently helped slaves escape their captors.

Jellyroll Morton recorded some of thses chants in the 1930's. These tracks are available on Library of Congress recordings. Smithsonian Folkways recorded a few of the chants in the late 50s and The Baby Dodds trio recorded jazz arrangements of some of the songs during the mid-50s as well.

In the 1970s, the chants were recorded with funk/R&B rhythm tracks, the two best known albums being eponymous LPs by "The Wild Tchoupitoulas" and "The Wild Magnolias." The Wild Tchoupitoulas never recorded again, having been screwed financially (although the current tribe has recorded and released a couple of tracks.) On the other hand, the Wild Magnolias have continued to record and have issued several, really enjoyable albums over the years. Other tribes, such as The Golden Eagles (with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux) and the Flaming Arrows have also released recordings of this particular style of music as well.

The Golden Eagles' "Lightning and Thunder" CD is probably the most "authentic" sounding in that it lacks any musical backing, save for the traditional percussion instruments, which are an integral part of all Mardi Gras Indian music. Admittedly, I would not recommend this particular disc for the uninitiated.

Here are a couple videos from Youtube:







PS Those costumes are made by hand and each tribe member sews a new costume every year.

I may have The Golden Eagles and The Flaming Arrows on a comp - that Boudreaux name sounds familiar.

Yeah, Monk appeared on a couple (if not all) of the Wild Magnolias albums. Off the top of my head, I don't recall which ones. A few years ago, he released an album titled "Mr. Stranger Man" whch is well worth finding. He released an album with Anders Osborne in 2002 called "Bury the Hatchett" that is alleged to be very good, although I've never heard it. I JUST learned that he released a new album this year titled "Rising Sun."

Many years ago, Robbie Robertson appeared on Saturday Night Live and performed "The Weight." In his backing band were George Porter (of the Meters,) Bruce Hornsby, Ivan Neville, Bo Dollis and Monk Boudreaux. Hornsby, Neville ad the Indian Chiefs each sanga verse of the song. (It must have been right around the time that he released his "Storyville" LP.) It was awe inspiring.

Two other favorite discs are: "United We Stand; Divided We Fall" by the Indians of the Nation (which was a group of men from various different tribes) and "The Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday Showdown" (featuring recordings by various different tribes.) The Indians of the Nation released a second LP titled "Feathercraft" (but that one has eluded me so far.)

As you may know, New Orleans has been notorious for trying to squash many of the cultural activities which make it unique in the first place. One of the things they've tried to eradicate is the rights of the Indians to march in the city. In 2005, one of the oldest remaining Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs, Allison "Tootie" Montana, died during a City Council meeting, which had convened to discuss the city's attempts to suppress this centuries old tradition. As he stood before the Council, he had a heart attack and passed away, just having finished speaking his mind on the issue.

i may be mistaken on this, but weren't the wild tchoupitoulas somehow connected to the neville brothers?

That's tragic what happened to Tootie

I believe there is a connection between TWT and the Neville Brothers, but I forget who.

The Big Chief of the Wild Tchoupitoulas was George Landry, whose sister was Amelia Landry Neville (the mother of the four Neville Brothers and two Neville sisters.) The Wild Tchoupitoulas album was the brainchild of either Allen Toussaint or Art Neville, depending on which account you believe. The Meters (a band which included both Art and Cyril Neville) provided the rhythm tracks for the eponymous album. All four Neville Brothers (who had never recorded as a group before) provided vocals on the album. Many people (including myself) consider it to actually be the Neville Brothers' first album (and one of their best) although it is not oficially a Neville Brothers LP.

The current Wild Tchoupitoulas tribe performed with the Neville Brothers at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz Fest.

The Nevilles' sister, Athelgra Gabriel, has been a member of the Dixie Cups off and on throughout that trio's history. She was with them during their pre-fame days (when they were known as the Mel-Tones) and is a current member as well.

The other sister, Cookie, is deceased.

thanks for the answer.

is that album available on CD?

Jon, you beat me to the punch -- I was going to mention the Robbie Robertson connection, as in addition to the SNL performance I believe there is also a brief cameo at the end of Storyville's "Go Back To Your Woods".