Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Celebrating the Life of Bennie Pete 1976 - 2021
The Hot8 Brass Band is establishing a Gofundme page in Honor of Bennie Pete. All funds will go directly to support Bennie's family; his wife Lameka, his 3 sons: Brannon, Brennon (twins, ages 2), Bennie Pete III (age 8), his 2 step-daughters La'Shae (age 19) and Laila (age 11).
Please join us in contributing to Bennie's Family.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:
gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-bennie-pete
Statement from the Hot 8 Brass Band on the passing of bandleader Bennie Pete
On September 6. 2021, we the Hot 8 Brass Band lost our beloved bandleader, Bennie Pete. He was more than just our leader; he was a constant galvanizing force within our own family of fellow musicians and beyond. Bennie was a rock in our lives. Yes, he was a leader, a teacher, and a mentor. More than that, Bennie was an inspiration to our band and to many other musicians, and the entire musical and cultural community. He helped each and every one of us, from our horn players to the folks dancing in the second lines and to the entire New Orleans community, during the most difficult and darkest times. Bennie helped all of us endure, to heal by encouraging us to continuing to play our music despite any adversities.
After Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levees, Bennie emerged as a symbol of perseverance and hope for all of New Orleans. His commitment to ensuring the cultural continuity of New Orleans’s most authentic, unique and deeply rooted cultural traditions, rituals and practices was unwavering. Bennie’s greatest wish was that New Orleans culture live on for future generations, and that the brass tradition continue to be a model of strength and a barometer of a healthy New Orleans cultural ecosystem.
We will miss Bennie greatly. No words can really do justice about the way we feel about losing our giant leader. But, we will continue to honor his legacy by playing music, taking it to the streets, and bringing hope and joy to all of those who are lucky enough to be part of what makes our city so special.
Bennie died early on Monday at New Orleans East Hospital of complications of COVID-19, after a week of intense ICU care and ventilation that was complicated by multi-organ system sarcoidosis predominantly effecting Bennie’s heart and nervous system. Bennie was 45 years old.
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Larry Blumenfeld, writing in The Wall Street Journal:
“The rippling authority of founder Bennie Pete’s sousaphone established the Hot 8 as a dominant force on New Orleans streets—the band you want to dance behind during a Sunday second-line parade… He captures both the edginess and transcendent beauty of life in its city.”
Roger Lewis, Dirty Dozen Brass Band:
"I had the pleasure of playing music with Benny, he was the anchor of the Hot Eight Brass Band, great musician, beautiful human being. He is going to be missed, another brother going to glory. My condolences go out to his family and band members"
Craig Charles BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music presenter:
"When Bennie hugged me I nearly ran out of breath. He just kept on hugging. He had so much love to give. I shared a golf buggy with him once and we had to take him off the back and put him in the middle because the buggy was doing wheelies and couldn’t get the traction. Bennie just laughed and blamed it on the tuba.He made me feel special because someone so cool kind of liked me. And when you get that feeling, the hug that keeps on hugging.Your heart does paradiddles.
Hearts just breaking a bit today"
Celebrating the Life of Bennie Pete 1976 - 2021
The Hot8 Brass Band is establishing a Gofundme page in Honor of Bennie Pete. All funds will go directly to support Bennie's family; his wife Lameka, his 3 sons: Brannon, Brennon (twins, ages 2), Bennie Pete III (age 8), his 2 step-daughters La'Shae (age 19) and Laila (age 11).
Please join us in contributing to Bennie's Family.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:
gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-bennie-pete
Statement from the Hot 8 Brass Band on the passing of bandleader Bennie Pete
On September 6. 2021, we the Hot 8 Brass Band lost our beloved bandleader, Bennie Pete. He was more than just our leader; he was a constant galvanizing force within our own family of fellow musicians and beyond. Bennie was a rock in our lives. Yes, he was a leader, a teacher, and a mentor. More than that, Bennie was an inspiration to our band and to many other musicians, and the entire musical and cultural community. He helped each and every one of us, from our horn players to the folks dancing in the second lines and to the entire New Orleans community, during the most difficult and darkest times. Bennie helped all of us endure, to heal by encouraging us to continuing to play our music despite any adversities.
After Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levees, Bennie emerged as a symbol of perseverance and hope for all of New Orleans. His commitment to ensuring the cultural continuity of New Orleans’s most authentic, unique and deeply rooted cultural traditions, rituals and practices was unwavering. Bennie’s greatest wish was that New Orleans culture live on for future generations, and that the brass tradition continue to be a model of strength and a barometer of a healthy New Orleans cultural ecosystem.
We will miss Bennie greatly. No words can really do justice about the way we feel about losing our giant leader. But, we will continue to honor his legacy by playing music, taking it to the streets, and bringing hope and joy to all of those who are lucky enough to be part of what makes our city so special.
Bennie died early on Monday at New Orleans East Hospital of complications of COVID-19, after a week of intense ICU care and ventilation that was complicated by multi-organ system sarcoidosis predominantly effecting Bennie’s heart and nervous system. Bennie was 45 years old.
- - -
Larry Blumenfeld, writing in The Wall Street Journal:
“The rippling authority of founder Bennie Pete’s sousaphone established the Hot 8 as a dominant force on New Orleans streets—the band you want to dance behind during a Sunday second-line parade… He captures both the edginess and transcendent beauty of life in its city.”
Roger Lewis, Dirty Dozen Brass Band:
"I had the pleasure of playing music with Benny, he was the anchor of the Hot Eight Brass Band, great musician, beautiful human being. He is going to be missed, another brother going to glory. My condolences go out to his family and band members"
Craig Charles BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music presenter:
"When Bennie hugged me I nearly ran out of breath. He just kept on hugging. He had so much love to give. I shared a golf buggy with him once and we had to take him off the back and put him in the middle because the buggy was doing wheelies and couldn’t get the traction. Bennie just laughed and blamed it on the tuba.He made me feel special because someone so cool kind of liked me. And when you get that feeling, the hug that keeps on hugging.Your heart does paradiddles.
Hearts just breaking a bit today"
