Banu Gibson: First Lady of the Bayou

The name Banu (pronounced “Bah-new”) means “lady” in Persian. Other sources say the name comes from “Peri-Banu,” a genie-woman mentioned in Arabian Nights. A person so named is characterized as “being of a pleasant, easy-going, friendly nature” - certainly an apt description of Banu Gibson who has been performing since the age of three. I first heard her sing in 1981 when she and her band were appearing at & Mo’ Jazz, which was located behind The Court of Two Sisters on Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. My wife and I were sitting in a bar when my brother joined us, saying, “There’s a band across the street with two tubas.” That sounded interesting so we made the move, only to discover that what he had seen from the street was the reflection of Banu’s tuba player sitting in front of a large floor-to-ceiling mirror. I’ve even interviewed her when she was splashing about in a swimming pool at a Scottsdale resort. This talented lady from Dayton, Ohio is always great copy and always puts on an entertaining show. As the Arizona Daily Star wrote following one of her performances, “Banu will give you the best time you can have in a room full of people.” Banu learned her craft through years of working on the road, performing in saloons, theaters and festivals, on cruises, leading her own band, appearing on television, and recording.