NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – New Orleans lost one of the most influential Mardi Gras Indians this week. Big Chief Theodore “Bo” Dollis died at this home Tuesday morning at the age of 71.
Chief Dollis was a member of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame and was responsible for bringing traditional Mardi Gras Indian music to the world, Hall of Fame cofounder Cherice Nelson said.
Dollis and the Wild Magnolia tribe of Mardi Gras Indians started recording music in the 70s.
Bo Dollis’s son, Bo Dollis Junior, recently took over as the Big Chief of the Wild Magnolias.
On Tuesday, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival announced Dollies will be featured on this year’s official festival poster.
Chief Dollis posed for the portrait last August.
Randy “Frenchy” Frechette is the artist of the poster.
