NEW ORLEANS — A celebration of life was held for New Orleans musician and songwriter Perrin "Lenny" Green. Musicians from the city gathered to remember the vocalist on Wednesday night.
Green passed away on Nov. 24 due to battling a rare form of meningitis. The music community honored his life at Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street.
WWL Louisiana's Whitney Miller spoke with his sister, Richell Powell who said Green was a picture of health and his diagnosis came as a shock.
"Perrin was diagnosed with Cryptoccocal Meningitis. Its one of those fungus’ that creeps in slowly and exits slowly," she said. "Many people that do contract that form of meningitis they either have a compromised immune system or HIV positive and he was neither, so that was like ‘where did he get this.’"
Green's mentor, Renard Poché said most people think of him as the smooth velvety voice.
“He would capture the lyric of the song, he would really invoke it and present it make it believable," he told Miller.
A native of New Orleans, Green grew up in the Pension Town Carrollton neighborhood. His old-school R&B style made him popular within the music scene in New Orleans, leading him to perform with city legends including Irma Thomas, Renard Poché of The Allen Touissant Band, Michael Ray of Kool and the Gang and Living Colour.
Musicians and those who encountered Green said he was kind hearted and a best friend.
“You called him, he would pick up the phone. He would stay on the phone for as long as you need to talk to him," said Laquay Fraizer, band leader of Smokin' on Some Bass told Miller.
Green collaborated with the band Smokin’ on Some Brass and had just finished recording an album to which Frazier said Green heavily influenced.
“In terms of being a song writer I’m talking the best of the best. He helped this band get started", Fraizer said.
Since his passing Green’s family has been at a loss, but said the love and support from his music community is making all the difference, they hope his legacy is a reminder to “be kind to one another, take time for one another.”
Green's funeral will be held on Saturday, Dec.9 at the Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church located at 1230 S Carrollton Avenue.
Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m. and the service starts at 11 a.m.
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