The late saxaphone player’s wife co-founded Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Charles Neville, the legendary saxophone player for the Neville Brothers, is being honored by an annual music festival in Massachusetts. The fifth Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival that opens Saturday (Aug. 11) has been designated a living monument to Neville.
Neville died April 26 at age 79. His wife, Kristin Neville, co-founded the festival.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Nevilles‘ hometown New Orleans, Kristin worked with musicians and nonprofits there to help get artists back on their feet. Struck by the historical, cultural and economic parallels between the two river cities, she established the Springfield festival.
Springfield’s mayor will offer a proclamation. The familyplans to pause the program for a ceremonial moment and to dedicate the festival’s main stage in Charles Neville’s name.
