Eddie Bo dies at 79
Man, this sucks.
Eddie Bo was the first New Orleanian we saw with any regularity back before we lived here full time. Tipitina’s French Quarter location didn’t stay around long as a regular venue, but while it was there, Eddie was there every Friday for their Happy Hour, and he became part of our regular schedule when we came for the weekend.
Tip’s didn’t charge a door fee, and we ran into any number of locals there, some down on their luck and happy to hear some free music, some just on their way home from work and off to a great start on the weekend. Most visits, Eddie was training and bringing along some gorgeous young chantuse- under the watchful eye of his wife, of course, who was also selling his CDs.
We didn’t know, but this would’ve been just after he lost everything in a fire- his house, his business, a lifetime’s collection of recordings and notes, his keyboards. Everything. You would’ve never known. Always, always, always smiling, he made everyone welcome, and thanks to him, we felt like locals before we were.
I’m so glad we made a point to see him at Jazzfest, and sad to realize we hadn’t seen him since.
RIP, Mr. Bo. If there’s a second line, we’ll be there, along with most of the city, I expect…
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