Though the present day Indian gangs in New Orleans are
best known for their spectacular costumes at carnival time, their most
far reaching contribution to modern New Orleans is musical. Through powerful
chants and polyrhytmic percussion, they continue to produce the most African-like
music on this continent-music that sounds much the way it did in the antebellum
Congo Square in the French Quarter.
The beat and lyrics of the Mardi Gras Indians have inspired
and informed the music of a host of New Orleans players, including Jelly
Roll Morton, Smiley Lewis, Guitar Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, Professor
Longhair, The Dixie Cups, James Booker, Ernie K-Doe, Dr. John , Fats Domino,
The Meters, The Nevile Brothers, and countless others.
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