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March 2000
"We're Gonna Party" by the Wild Magnolias
from They Call Us Wild, released in 1975.
 Click here to listen!
I'm pleased to wish everyone a Happy Mardi Gras by presenting to you the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians as my rare groove feature of the month. To really understand what a Mardi Gras Indian is, please read here. But I will tell you briefly that the black Indian "tribes" or "gangs" are unique to New Orleans and dress in hand-sewn, ornately decorated and elaborately beaded Indian suits for special events like Mardi Gras day and St. Joseph's Day/Super Sunday. They have been a part of Crescent City culture for over 100 years and started the tradition of masking to pay tribute to the Native Americans who helped them during slavery. Also, Mardi Gras Indian culture has been an alternative way for black Amercians to participate in the ceremonial holiday festivities, which for several years (until recently?) have included segregated practices.
None of this sounds very funk/rare groove music-oriented, does it. Not until you bring in the Wild Magnolias, a Mardi Gras Indian group who put out a thick slab of funk in 1970 with "Handa Wanda," featuring Willie Tee and the New Orleans Project on the rhythm section. Led by Big Chief (don't call it a lead singer) "Bo" Dollis, Polydor records decided to spread New Orleans-style Mardi Gras Indian goodwill nationally when they released the funky Wild Mags' self-titled debut in 1974. And this month's Rare Groove Feature, "We're Gonna Party," comes from the group's second album They Call Us Wild which was released in '75. Featuring Mardi Gras Indians "Bo" Dollis, "Monk" Boudreaux, "Gator June" Johnson Jr., "Crip" Adams, "Quarter Moon" Tobias, "Gate" Johnson, "Bubba" Scott, and musicians Willie Tee, Earl Turbinton, Guitar June, Erving Charles, Alfred "Uganda" Roberts, & Larry Panna, this song is super funky and just right to make you feel like you were here in New Orleans partying for Carnival.
The Wild Magnolias are still active today, not only as a Mardi Gras Indian tribe, but also as a full-fledged groove unit. (Please note: not all Mardi Gras Indians perform with funk music, or with any amplified music at all, but the Wild Mags started the trend for many others like the Wild Tchoupitoulas and most recently the Flaming Arrows and Young Guardians of the Flame.) They've just released a great new CD called Life is a Carnival and are well-loved performers here in New Orleans. Occasionally they do tour, and you won't want to miss it when Big Chief Bo, Monk Boudreaux, Big Queen Rita, and Little Bo Dollis bring the real funk to your town.
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