Big chief Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias died on Januaary 20, 2015. At Xavier University of Louisiana’s Convocation Center Mayor Mitch Landreu stated:”He was the physical manifestation of the most beautiful things New Orleans has to offer to the world”. At the funeral it was also stated that Big Chief Bo Dollis would be remembered most for his smile.
Theodore Dollis traveled the world representing hybrid New Orleanian style and was the first to record indian chants and percussion blended with electronic funk. Bo Dollis at times with the help of Big Chief Boudreaux of The Golden Eagles created the songs, “Handa Wanda” and “New Suit”. Together these two old friends also reprised the James “Sugarboy” Crawford’s hit single “Jackomo jackomo”. Big Chief Bo Dollis performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, The Smithsonian Folklife festival in Washington D.C. and internationally in London, Nice and Berlin. In 2011 Theodore Dollis was awarded the NEA’s(National Endowment for the Arts) National Heritage fellowship for his lifelong work in sustaining the traditional culture of the Mardi Gras Indians. Bo Dollis was a former member of the White Eagles Tribe, the Golden Arrows and later rose to Chief of the Wild Magnolias in 1964. On January 22, 2015, New Orleans city council proclaimed the first day of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival(April 24, 2015) as Bo Dollis Day. Theodore Emile “Bo” Dollis leaves us as beloved husband, father, and Big Chief who will remain etched in the history of New Orleans and blessedly burned into our hearts and minds forever.
Benny White/Senior Photographer/Writer/Executive VP of KaptureNOLA.
