Photo Credit: Michael Weintrob
Today, the New Orleans music community and fans around the world mourn the loss of iconic bassist and funk figurehead Nick Daniels III, who passed away on Friday, April 26. Daniels was widely beloved for his musical accomplishments and warmhearted commitment to the culture and citizens of New Orleans. Through his extensive catalog and inexhaustible performance history, he defined bold new paths in the region’s distinctive funk sound, making his mark alongside some of the most important artists in the history of the genre. He was 68.
Among the highlights of Daniels’ music legacy is his work with Dumpstaphunk, the influential genre-bending septet the artist had driven since its 2003 foundation. Alongside bandleader Ivan Neville and co-bassist Tony Hall, Daniels garnered international acclaim for the group’s energetic, gritty and idiosyncratic funk and his own slick and deep-pocketed style and vocal prowess. Dumpstaphunk took the stage at the Fillmore in New Orleans last night, and broke the news to the fans during the performance. Neville shared that the group’s upcoming show during Jazz Fest, which also served as the venue for the band’s debut over two decades ago, is “going to help us get through this.”
Beyond the band, Daniels acclaimed widespread renown for supporting such iconic acts as the Neville Brothers, Etta James, Dr. John, the Wild Magnolias, Leo Nocentelli and Allen Toussaint. Off the stage, he was well known for his warm, caring and positive personality, which carried over in his continuous endeavors to mentor aspiring musicians and intently give back to his community, in large part through participation in a vast array of hybrid and offshoot combinations that have kept the scene thriving.
Daniels lives on in the memories of his musical family, friends, fans and through the sounds of the musical community he championed for a lifetime. They all continue to offer their experiences of Daniels in a collective celebration of his legacy; this story will be continuously updated with their words.
“Nick Daniels had a true gift as a musician and singer,” Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio shared. “He could do things I could never imagine being able to do. But my favorite part of seeing Nick was his genuine kindness to me for as long as I can remember. Seeing his big beaming smile and sitting and talking with him meant the world to me as a young bassist on the New Orleans music scene.”
“It was a bittersweet birthday yesterday finding out my brother and bandmate Nick Daniels has passed,” offers Lettuce’s Adam Deitch. “This man taught me so much about music, his sense of humor always had me laughing and his spirit was so strong and loving. If you ever saw him play with the Neville Brothers, Dumpstaphunk, Dr Klaw, you know how his voice soared like a soulful eagle and his bass playing rumbled the house.”
“I realized that whatever time I got to spend with him was a blessing. And if you knew him, you figured that out,” Lettuce’s Nigel Hall posted. “Because every time you left him, you learned something new. He and I had a tremendous respect for each other as musicians and singers… and a constant source of hope and love I could always call on when [I] was in need.”
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