Published on:
November 26th, 2011
coco_robicheaux.jpg
Coco at Jazz Fest 2011. Photo by Jef Jaisun.
Apple Barrel regular and bluesman about town, Coco Robicheaux, passed on the Friday after Thanksgiving, on Frenchmen St., where he was a beloved regular musician and friend. Coco was a colorful musician, a Jazz Fest staple and was featured on HBO's Treme sacrificing a chicken in the WWOZ studios for a voodoo ritual. While this never occurred in real life, Mr. Robicheaux was known for his riffs and larger than life personality. He and his guitar will be sorely missed.
Watch the video clip below of Coco singing for Herman Leonard, produced by WWOZ show host and documentarian George Ingmire.
UPDATE: Two second lines will be taking place to honor Mr. Robicheaux.
On Saturday, December 3rd, starting at Marie's Bar (2843 Burgundy St.), a service will be held at 5 pm, followed by a second line ending up at the Apple Barrel
On Monday, Decmber 12th, a march starting at 3:30 pm will begin on Frenchman St. and will end at the House of Blues with a night of music dedicated to Mr. Robicheaux, starting at 6 pm.
Read more about Mr. Robicheaux's life in the nola.com obituary.
Comments
Goodbye Coco.. You're
Goodbye Coco.. You're missed.. Deeeply..
thank you
This video gave me so much comfort. I feel like he is still here.
I love how it captures his facial expressions and voice.
I will miss him deeply forever.
Cheers~
H
I Can't Believe It
This is so weird. I haven't listened to WWOZ since moving away from NOLA in 1986 but something compelled me to come to this site this evening. I'm retired now and living in the Provence of Chiriqui in Panama.
Back in 1983/84 when I lived on First Street (between Baronne and Dryades) Coco was my upstairs neighbor. I remember when he cast the bronze bust of the Fess. For a long time before it found its current home it was simply the most amazing door stop the world has ever seen. Coco Robicheaux, AKA Curtis Arceneau (spelling) was one of my favorite local friends. Many a night when he was working the door at Tips (before the World's Fair closed the place down for a couple of years) Coco would let me slip in to see the Fess, The Nevilles, James Booker, Marcia Ball and others.
The world will be a sadder, drearier place without Coco in it. RIP Cher Ami.
Bless You Coco
So sorry to see this. Yet another Nawlins legend has slipped away. Thankfully Coco R's recorded music remains; but he'll be missed, a real NOLA character about town. If I was still living there I'd a been sure to get to one of the rememberances. 'Membering you from afar, my man. But I feel blessed to have enjoyed you live and lived amidst your airtime on 'Oz.
Farewell Coco
Coco was the first friend my husband and I met in New Orleans on our first trip together to the Big Easy back in 1986. We were at Tipitina's, so naturally we went outside to share a "reefer" with him in the break! ;-) Coco was so proud of his bust of Professor Longhair. We still have a picture of Coco & me with the statue. We'd always run into him every time we visited New Orleans after that and we even ran into him once in Sydney, Australia back in 1997, shortly after we had moved down under! He was really special to us and it's hard to believe he is gone - we will miss him dearly!