Ivan Neville, New Orleans legend born into the city’s First Family of Funk, will be celebrating his 60th birthday in style. In a night presented by non-profit 30AMP Circuit at Le Petit Theatre, the tradition of Ivan Neville’s Jazz Fest Piano Sessions, Songbook Live and the efforts he has put forth in helping the New Orleans community will be showcased. This intimate celebration, “Ivan Neville’s Songbook Live- Piano Sessions Through the Ages.” will be on May 2, 2019.

“Songbook Live” will consist of a range of songs, stories and musical guests that were all chosen specifically to recreate and admire Ivan’s rich musical career. During the celebration, Ivan will be presented with 30AMP Circuit’s inaugural Songbook Award, which recognizes his musical legacy and his lifetime of charitable efforts supporting the New Orleans community. 

Ivan Neville was guided down a musical path from his family as a young boy yet still created a name for himself. With a national Top 10 hit, “Tell It Like It Is,” and later forming the Neville Brothers, Ivan Neville’s father and uncles exposed the then young musician to a long line of New Orleans historical music. More than three decades later, Ivan Neville has a legacy in New Orleans music that most musicians dream of. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has contributed to the music of the Stones, Bonnie Raitt and Ani DiFranco, created solo recordings and now is the leader of the acclaimed band Dumpstaphunk. Ivan Neville has not only lived up to the bars set from the musicians in his family ahead of him, but has also gone above and beyond, proving himself as one of the best to touch on New Orleans music.

Struggling with addiction issues in the past, Ivan Neville decided to sober up in 1998 with the help of the New Orleans’ Musicians Clinic. All proceeds from the event will benefit New Orleans’ Musicians Clinic. “I’m looking forward to sharing the honor with so many family and friends and parts of New Orleans who have helped shape who I am, including the NOLA Musicians’ Clinic.  In a lot of ways, they helped save my life – and are so deserving of this kind of support,” Neville said.

The event will be hosted on the second Thursday of Jazz Fest, after Ivan’s festival set and two hours after Thursday’s fest ends. For more information and to see tickets, visit here.