The Meters were New Orleans' answer to everything -- four men who played together so long they breathed as one organism. Art Neville on organ. Leo Nocentelli on guitar. George Porter Jr. on bass. Zigaboo Modeliste on drums. They became the house band for Allen Toussaint's studio, backing Dr. John, Labelle, and dozens of others.

Then their own records -- Cissy Strut. Look-Ka Py Py. Just Kissed My Baby. Instrumental funk that didn't need a vocalist because the groove did all the singing. Zigaboo's drumming -- those second-line rhythms adapted to funk -- has been imitated by every jam band drummer for 50 years.

The Meters are the most sampled funk band in history. They didn't set out to change music. They just got in the pocket and refused to leave. The New Orleans second line, electrified and amplified.

The Meters -- Cissy Strut. New Orleans second-line funk. The most sampled funk band in history. The groove never left the pocket.