NEW ORLEANS — At 6 p.m. Thursday, musicians and friends of drummer Kerry “Fatman” Hunter will gather for a second line in his honor.
He was killed by an alleged drunk driver on Mardi Gras morning.
That second line will begin at Hunter's Field Park on North Claiborne and St. Bernard Avenues.
Some of those musicians say Hunter never missed playing at a second line.
Pictures taken Monday night at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter are the last of Kerry “Fatman” Hunter doing what he loved, playing drums.
“Got to give him a big hug and wish him a happy Mardi Gras,” remembers Ben Jaffe, Preservation Hall Creative Director.
Jaffe took those pictures of his fellow musician he's been playing with since their early teens.
“More than a friend. I considered Kerry to be a brother,” Jaffe said.
“It was, losing a brother, and uh, losing a brother,” trumpet player James Andrews said. “It was tough for us to take it, and we still taking it.”
Andrews remembers the night Kerry Fatman won the Grammy award.
“He was proud you know. It was a proud moment for all of us,” Andrews said, while wiping tears from his face. “He brought the Grammy back to New Orleans for the culture.
Musician Travis Laurendine says Kerry Fatman was the nicest person, never had negative words to say about anyone, and was humble.
“He didn't think of himself as a rock star, but he really was. He played all the big stages all around the world, and entertained millions for sure, when you think about it, just in the French Quarter."
“I've seen Fatman at more parades than anybody else, any other musician. He was there. He was there for his community, and he was there for his family,” said Jaffe.
Kerry lost his life Tuesday morning, crossing the street near North Claiborne and Pauger. He was hit and went through the windshield of a vehicle driven by an alleged drunk driver.
An impromptu second line followed on Wednesday. Now the man, who at 53, was there playing the drums on those same streets for decades at second lines, will have his fellow musicians play dirges in his honor.
“The tradition of New Orleans is to celebrate when people die. We celebrate they life, and we gonna do it every night in the Tremé for him, huh,” said Andrews.
Jeremy Lindsey, the driver who was stopped for allegedly hitting Hunter, is a student at Xavier University. He is booked with vehicular homicide and hit and run. His next court date is in April.
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