RIP Wardell Quezergue, New Orleans arranger of "Mr Big Stuff", "Groove Me," and more

http://blog.nola.com/entertainment_impact_music/print.html?entry=/2011/09/wardell_quezergue_legendary_ne.html

By Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune

Wardell Quezergue Sr., the bandleader, producer, composer, arranger and educator whose contributions to a plethora of New Orleans rhythm & blues classics earned him the moniker "the Creole Beethoven," died Tuesday morning at East Jefferson Hospital of congestive heart failure. He was 81.

As an arranger and, occasionally, as a producer, Mr. Quezergue (pronounced ka-ZAIR) dressed up recordings with horns and other embellishments. His credits include Jean Knight's smash "Mr. Big Stuff," the Dixie Cups' "Iko Iko" and "Chapel of Love," Professor Longhair's recording of "Big Chief," Robert Parker's "Barefootin,'" King Floyd's "Groove Me," Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue" and Dr. John's landmark 1992 album "Goin' Back to New Orleans."

He also worked with Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, B.B. King and Willie Nelson, and co-wrote "It Ain't My Fault," a funky standard of the New Orleans brass band repertoire that has been sampled by various rappers.

An impressive career--

He oversaw the sessions for both "Groove Me," a No. 1 hit on the national R&B chart, and "Mr. Big Stuff" on the same day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4P0PLu6wvo

He oversaw the sessions for both "Groove Me," a No. 1 hit on the national R&B chart, and "Mr. Big Stuff" on the same day.

when you're hot you're hot

Another huge piece of New Orleans R&B history slips away. One of my alltime best club concerts was being front row center for Johnny Adams at Snug Harbor in N.O., fronting Wardell Quezergue's big band -- the same one assembled for Johnny's "Good Morning Heartache" recording back in '93.