John Boutté

On Sundays, as the red beans were soaking for Monday’s dinner, John Boutté was awakened by the sounds of his New Orleans neighborhood. Voices carried over the fence from the church behind his home in the Seventh Ward, the home where he grew up, where most of his Creole family still lives and sings. Past the front yard, second-line parades rolled by, matching the madness of Carnival season and the transcendent joy of the jazz funeral. This roux of influences created John Boutte, and serves him to this day. 

His musical influences include Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack, and Donny Hathaway, as well as local legends like Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and James Booker, introduced to him by his sister, Lillian Boutté, a renowned gospel singer. His song “Treme Song” became the theme for HBO’s Treme, in which he also made several appearances.

John Boutté is celebrated for his soulful, genre-blending vocal style, which fuses jazz, gospel, blues, and R&B. He’s known for emotionally rich performances that reflect the spirit and struggles of New Orleans. His work has inspired a new generation of musicians and helped preserve the city’s musical heritage.