Prominent New Orleans drummer Kerry “Fatman” Hunter was killed by a drunk driver while walking near the corner of Claiborne and Elysian Fields on Mardi Gras night. He was only 53. He shared a Grammy in the Best Regional Roots Music category with the New Orleans Nightcrawlers in 2021 and was nominated again this year. He performed with Danny Barker’s Roots of Jazz Brass Band, the Preservation Hall Collective, and prominent brass bands including the Olympia, Rebirth, Kinfolk, Tornado, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and others. He was a co leader of the Rebirth Brass Band before concentrating on the New Orleans Nightcrawlers.
