Legendary bassist George Porter Jr. celebrated his 78th birthday on Christmas day at New Orleans’ iconic Maple Leaf Bar. Porter, whose actual birthday falls on December 26th, took the stage alongside his longtime backing band, the Runnin’ Pardners, featuring Mike Lemmler on keyboards, Terrence Houston on drums, and Chris Adkins on guitar.
As a founding member of The Meters, Porter helped create the blueprint for New Orleans funk, contributing to a sound that has influenced generations of musicians and remains foundational to the city’s musical identity. His groove-heavy bass work became synonymous with the genre itself…