The Late Chief Bo Dollis Celebrated

Join the Historic Carver Theater as the community honors the late Big Chief Bo Dollis Friday, January 30. Public visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a celebration beginning at 8 p.m. The event will feature special performances by Bo Dollis Jr & the Wild Magnolias, Rockin Dopsie, Trumpet Black, The Rebirth and Da Truth Brass Bands, Joe Kool, The Pinettes, Deacon John, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Jumpin' Jonny, Davell Crawford, Ivan Neville, and 101 Indian Band. Tickets are $15. VIP tickets are available for $75 and include food, beverages, and a VIP lounge all access pass.

Described as a humble man and talented musician, Big Chief Bo Dollis served as a pillar of the community.

Chief Bo Dollis was named Indian Chief for the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indian Tribe in 1964. In 1970, he performed at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with the Golden Eagles Chief Monk Boudreaux.  They went on to partner on the Mardi Gras classic “Handa Wanda.” From there, the pair recorded songs like “New Suit” and James Crawford’s “Jackomo Jackomo.”  Dollis performed all over the world including Carnegie Hall in New York, Washington D.C, Berlin, and London.

The National Endowment of the Arts honored Chief Dollis with the 2011 National Heritage Fellowship award. And this year, the New Orleans City Council announced the first day of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be “Chief Bo Dollis Day” to recognize his achievements in preserving music and culture in the Big Easy.