The Meters

The Meters were an American funk and R&B band formed in New Orleans in the mid-1960s, renowned for tight grooves, syncopated rhythms, and seminal instrumental compositions that shaped funk, soul, and hip hop sampling. Emerging from the New Orleans club circuit and studio scene, they collaborated with producers and artists across Atlantic Records, Stax Records, and Reprise Records, influencing generations of musicians from Parliament-Funkadelic to James Brown admirers and later sampled by Dr. Dre, Public Enemy, and A Tribe Called Quest.

History

The group originated among session musicians who performed at venues like Preservation Hall and recorded at studios associated with figures such as Allen Toussaint and Cosimo Matassa. Early associations included backing artists on Instant Records and contributing to recordings by Lee Dorsey and Earl King. They gained prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s through singles released on Josie Records and albums produced during the era of producers linked to Atlantic Records and the wider Southern soul scene. Touring alongside acts such as The Rolling Stones and Dr. John expanded their exposure to rock and soul audiences; they also opened for or shared bills with Eric Clapton, The Who, and Sly and the Family Stone. Internal lineup changes and the pressures of the recording industry in the mid-1970s paralleled shifts experienced by contemporaries like The Temptations and The Meters-era peers; members pursued session work and collaborations with artists including Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, and Gregg Allman before periodic reunions from the late 1980s onward.

Musical Style and Influence

Their sound combined syncopation rooted in New Orleans traditions associated with Soprano Saxophone-led ensembles and second-line rhythms popularized by parades on Bourbon Street and in neighborhoods like Treme. They synthesized elements from Bo Diddley rhythms, Louis Armstrong jazz phrasing, and contemporary funk innovations reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes. Producers and arrangers linked to Stax Records and Motown Records recognized their tight interplay, and session credits placed members alongside artists such as Aretha Franklin, Neil Young, Etta James, and Cyndi Lauper. Their instrumental tracks became staples for sampling by Public Enemy, N.W.A., Beastie Boys, and producers in the East Coast hip hop and West Coast hip hop movements, while rock acts like The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin cited them as influences for groove-oriented sections.

Band Members and Lineups

Founding personnel included musicians who later worked extensively as sidemen and producers with names such as Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. Core original members participated in sessions for artists tied to labels like Reprise Records and Warner Bros. Records. Over time the ensemble saw lineups change in ways comparable to long-running groups such as The Wailers and Tower of Power, with members collaborating with figures like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Buddy Miles, and Little Richard. Reunion lineups featured performing credits on tours and albums alongside performers associated with Grateful Dead offshoots and contemporary soul revivals led by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones.

Discography

Their recording output spans singles and albums released on labels connected to the 1960s–1970s Atlantic, Reprise, and independent revival circuits, with studio albums that entered catalogs alongside releases by Sly and the Family Stone, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Isley Brothers. Key LPs and singles were later reissued by boutique labels that also handled archival releases for artists like Curtis Mayfield and Prince. Compilations and sample-sourced anthologies placed their tracks in contexts with artists such as Public Enemy, Dr. Dre, Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, and Nas.

Legacy and Recognition

Their grooves have been cited in scholarly and popular accounts alongside the legacies of Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Professor Longhair as part of New Orleans’s musical contributions. Music historians and award committees that recognize influence—such as panels associated with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame discussions and Grammy Awards consultants—have frequently referenced their role in shaping funk and influencing sampling culture noted in retrospectives alongside Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, and Sly Stone. Tributes and covers by artists like The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Dave Grohl, John Mayer, and Norah Jones underscore their continuing impact on musicians across genres, and educational programs in institutions such as Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans incorporate their work in curricula about Southern music history.

Category:Musical groups from New Orleans