Original Meters Zigaboo Modeliste & George Porter Jr.   |   2018 Recipients of the Recording Academy’s GRAMMY “Lifetime Achievement Award”

Foundation of Funk is a live performance project conceived by the legendary Meters’ drummer and vocalist, Zigaboo Modeliste. In 2015, Modeliste recruited bassist George Porter Jr. to join him– the other anchor of The Meters’ rhythm section, along with select players who have carried on the funk and jam tradition. The group pays homage to The Meters’ catalog in a new and unique collaborative format, creating a unique experience from show to show.

FOF has featured a different cast of special guests alongside Zig and George over the years including Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, Tony Hall, Anders Osborne, Eric Krasno (Soulive & Lettuce), Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic), John Medeski Hermann (Widespread Panic), Jon Cleary, Neal Evans (Soulive), Eddie Roberts, Joe Tatton, Jojo Herman.  The group recently joined together with members of Dead & Company including Bob Weir and John Mayer for an unforgettable jam at Lockn Festival in VA in 2019.  In 2018, The Meters received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” GRAMMY from the Recording Academy.

Meters’ samples can be heard in many recordings in today’s music by Queen Latifah, Run DMC, NWA, Ice Cube, Salt N’ Pepa, Cypress Hill, EPMD, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Naughty by Nature and Eminem.

ABOUT ZIGAGOO MODELISTE

Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste is a master drummer, rhythm innovator and New Orleans legend. The most highly-acclaimed drummer ever to hail from the Crescent City. Zigaboo is the founding drummer, songwriter and singer of the legendary group the Meters. Modeliste has toured and recorded with Rolling Stones, Ron Wood and Keith Richards as part of the New Barbarians project as well as his sidework with Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Aaron Neville, Betty Harris, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, John Fogerty, Harry Connick. His drum patterns have been sampled extensively by hip hop artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Queen Latifah, Run DMC, NWA, Ice Cube, Salt N’ Pepa, Cypress Hill, EPMD, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Naughty by Nature, and Eminem

ABOUT GEORGE PORTER JR
Few bass players in the history of modern New Orleans music are as storied as George Porter, Jr. During a career spanning more than five decades, he has made a deep impression through his work with The Meters and has notched sessions work with artists as diverse as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett, David Byrne, Patti LaBelle, Robbie Robertson, Tori Amos and Taj Mahal. Porter also leads the Runnin’ Pardners, a touring New Orleans band — well respected in the jam band and festival scenes.