<\/p>\n
Willie Puckett Jr., the pioneering New Orleans bounce music dancer turned Take Fo\u2019 Records recording artist, died May 3 of respiratory failure brought on by cancer. He was 50.<\/p>\n
A native of the 10th Ward, he grew up in what was then called the St. Thomas projects. He was a 1994 graduate of Alcee Fortier High School, where he was a marching band drum major.<\/p>\n
He first made a name for himself within the local bounce community as an especially exuberant dancer backing the likes of the girl group Da\u2019 Sha Ra\u2019 and Jerome \u201cDJ Jubilee\u201d Temple. Puckett was such a crucial part of Jubilee\u2019s shows that Jubilee specifically called out Puckett in lyrics.<\/p>\n
Among other innovations, he helped elevate the popular \u201ctrip out\u201d dance<\/a> as an enduring element of bounce culture. He performed at venues across the New Orleans metro area, from Riverboat Hallelujah to Club Rumors to Detour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By the late 1990s, Puckett had signed with Take Fo\u2019 Records<\/a>, the independent New Orleans hip-hop record label. At various points, the Take Fo\u2019 roster included DJ Jubilee, Choppa, Baby Boy-Da Prince, TEC-9 from U.N.L.V., K.C. Redd, 5th Ward Weebie, Katey Red and Big Freedia.<\/p>\n Puckett made his debut as a recording artist with 1997\u2019s \u201cDoggie Hopp,\u201d a six-track EP. Not surprisingly given his background, the title song spawned a specific dance.<\/p>\n His catalog also included a full-length 1998 album on Take Fo\u2019, \u201cMillion Dollar HotBoy.\u201d It featured guest appearances by DJ Jubilee, K.C. Redd and singer Lisa Amos, who joined Puckett for the track \u201cCause You Love Me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n He didn’t put out another album, but continued to perform. He was featured on the 2025 NOLA Live Cruise, a bounce-themed cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel.<\/p>\n News of Puckett\u2019s passing sparked an outpouring of social media salutes and remembrances from fans and such fellow performers like\u00a0New Orleans Saints icon Choppa<\/a>.<\/p>\n Survivors includes his wife, Stacy P. Puckett; sons Tyrone, Willie B., Cedrick, Willie III, William, Cordell, and Kash; daughters Kourtney, Bridgell, Alexus, and Kennedy; stepchildren Jonte and Jordan McGee; a sister, Stacey D. Braud; and nine grandchildren.<\/p>\n The Boyd Family Funeral Home, 5001 Chef Menteur Hwy., will host a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23. Visitation starts at 9 a.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Burial will be at Providence Memorial Park, 8200 Airline Dr. in Metairie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n