Today keyboardist/vocalist Art Neville passed away due to natural causes at age 81. He is best known for his work with New Orleans group the Meters, who created one of the greatest bodies of work in the funk genre. From 1969's Look-Ka Py Py to 1975's Fire on the Bayou, the Meters had one of the strongest runs of any funk outfit on the planet. What distinguished them was their economical dynamics, precision grooves, and the use of space between beats. Their less-is-more approach manifested in extravagant listening and dancing pleasure. Hearing them at their peak helped you to understand what soulful Southern hospitality sounds like when it's translated to the musical realm. The Meters is some of the most disciplined party music ever created.

While Neville continued to further his legacy in the Funky Meters and the Neville Brothers, he also lent his formidable chops to records by fellow recently departed New Orleans legend Dr. John and to the funkiest sides by Robert Palmer, before the British singer became a pop star in America with "Addicted to Love."

On a personal note, Neville and the Meters have figured in many of my DJ sets over the last 20 or so years. It's no exaggeration to say that whenever I've dropped a Meters track, it always provokes smiles, nods, or dancing—sometimes all three. Check out a handful of my faves from his discography below. RIP, Art Neville.