Legendary American Funk Bassist Nick Daniels Dies At 68

Nick Daniels III, a legendary American funk bassist best known for his New Orleans style, has reportedly died at the age of 68. His official cause of death is being listed as complications from multiple myeloma.

Myeloma is a blood cancer that develops in plasma cells in the bone marrow. There are only 35,000 cases of this cancer in the United States per year, making it an extremely rare form of cancer.

He was best known for his work in the group Dumpstaphunk. The group featured Daniels on a five-string bass alongside co-bassist Tony Hall, Ivan Neville on keys and vocals, Ian Neville on guitar, and Raymond Weber on drums.

The band even opened for the Rolling Stones in 2019. Legacy.com reports on Daniels’ tragic death,

Nick Daniels III is best known as half of the two-bass attack and co-vocalist for New Orleans funk act Dumpstaphunk, but his career on bass spanned well beyond that.

He spent time in bands backing legends like Etta James (1938–2012), the Neville Brothers, Dr. John (1941–2019), Allen Toussaint (1938–2015), Boz Scaggs, and others. He was a mainstay on NOLA stages and mentored up-and-coming players. A childhood friend of Ivan Neville (son of Aaron Neville of the famed Neville Brothers), Daniels co-founded the group that eventually became the Neville Brothers’ backing band, Uptown Allstars. 

The pair would play in other bands together, too, mostly notably Dumpstaphunk. Formed in 2003, the group featured Daniels on a five-string bass alongside co-bassist Tony Hall, Ivan Neville on keys and vocals, Ian Neville on guitar, and Raymond Weber on drums.

There were some lineup changes over the years, but Daniels had always been in the mix. He released four studio albums with the band and was with them when they opened for the Rolling Stones in 2019 at the Caesars Superdome. 

Daniels left the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina but continued to perform in the city on a regular basis and toured with the band. 

Legacy

Rest in peace, legend!