Eddie Bo | Blues musician, 79
New Orleans blues singer-pianist Eddie Bo, 79, who worked with such musicians as Irma Thomas and Art Neville, has died.
New Orleans blues singer-pianist Eddie Bo, 79, who worked with such musicians as Irma Thomas and Art Neville, has died.
His death was confirmed Friday by his close friend and booking agent, Karen Hamilton. She said Eddie Bo, whose real name was Edwin Joseph Bocage, had a heart attack while out of town Wednesday.
Mr. Bocage was an accomplished keyboardist-pianist with a career spanning more than five decades. Hamilton said he counted Professor Longhair as one of his biggest inspirations.
An accomplished songwriter, Mr. Bocage penned the 1960 Etta James hit "My Dearest Darling" and "I'm Wise," which was made famous by Little Richard when renamed and released in 1956 as "Slippin' and Slidin'. "
Mr. Bocage released more than 50 singles in his career - a number second only to Fats Domino among New Orleans artists - including "Check Mr. Popeye" in 1962.
Early in his career, Mr. Bocage toured with singers Joe Turner, Lloyd Price, Ruth Brown, and Earl King. But he spent most of his career with New Orleans musicians, among them soul singer Irma Thomas, R&B singer Robert Parker, and singer-keyboardist Art Neville, the eldest of the Neville Brothers.