Wardell Joseph Quezergue (/kəˈzɛər/ kə-ZAIR;[1][2] March 12, 1930 – September 6, 2011) was an American composer, arranger, record producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the "Creole Beethoven".
Steeped in jazz, he was an influential musician whose work shaped the sound of New Orleans rhythm and blues, funk and pop music.
[9] He emerged as a bandleader in his own right in the mid-1950s with his band the Royal Dukes of Rhythm, and later with Wardell and the Sultans in the late 1950s.
[13] In 1964 he co-wrote drummer Smokey Johnson's "It Ain't My Fault", an instrumental track which became a New Orleans funk standard.
[1][18] By this time Quezergue was so integrated in the New Orleans music scene that he declined a liberal offer to join Atlantic Records.
[7] As a result of his success, Quezergue's skills and Malaco studio were in demand in the 1970s and were used by artists as diverse as Paul Simon, Willie Nelson and B.B.
[3][9] In 1975 he arranged Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue" which crossed over and reached number three on the Pop chart.
[3] A twenty-track compilation album of Quezergue's lesser-known works from this era, titled Strung Out, was released in 2004.
[3] In late 1990s he produced horn arrangements for two big band albums by Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.
The composition is a tribute to the fallen soldier who replaced Quezergue in combat decades earlier during the Korean War.
[21] The album, titled Happy, was recognized as best produced CD of the year by the New York Blues & Jazz Society.
[21][23] In 2005, by then legally blind, Quezergue lost his belongings and musical scores in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
[1][24] The following year benefit concerts were held on his behalf, led by Dr. John with support from other leading musicians including REM's Mike Mills.
[25] In 2009 Quezergue received an honorary doctorate in music from Loyola University New Orleans for his commitment to public service and the arts.
A nine-piece band was assembled from New Orleans to accompany Dr. John, Robert Parker, Jean Knight and the Dixie Cups.
The album featured Dr. John, Bettye LaVette, bassist Jimmy Haslip, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, drummer Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson and the Louisiana Philharmonic Strings.