Michael Henry Sklar

1945 - 2016

Michael Henry Sklar died peacefully in his home in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 28, 2016 after a brief battle with cancer, aged 70 years old. Born in New York City on June 14, 1945, he was raised by his parents, the late Solomon Isaac Sklar and Mary Schapiro Sklar, in Manhattan, where he picked up his first guitar at age five and began his lifelong love affair with music. He spent time listening to a young Bob Dylan perform at clubs in Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, and he taught famed musician Ritchie Havens to play Blues guitar while they jammed together in Washington Square Park . After graduating from the prestigious Dalton School in New York and attending Trinity School in New York and Tilton School in New Hampshire, he was inspired by reading "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and hitchhiked to San Francisco in 1965, where he played guitar for numerous bands including Percy Sledge and blues legends Luther Tucker and Big Mama Thornton. In 1979 he became the guitarist for The Neville Brothers and fell in love with New Orleans and, in turn, a New Orleans girl. He moved to New Orleans permanently in 1983 and was with his late wife Roberta Gelpi Sklar for 29 years. Together they created a wonderful life, traveling yearly to their beloved Harbour Island, Bahamas, and taking day trips to Cajun Country just for the perfect boiled seafood. He played with countless musicians, including the Jay Monque'D Blues Band, guitar legend Wayne Bennett, Bahamian band Exuma, the New Orleans Blues Department, Willie Lockett and the Blues Krewe, and his own bands The King Bees and The Hipshakers. He was the bandleader for the late, great Coco Robicheaux and his Spiritland Band and was, with Coco, a founding member of the "Benchmen on Frenchmen" outside the Apple Barrel Bar, where they counted Lenny Kravitz and David Letterman as fans who dropped in to hear the Blues. He also appeared on stage with such greats as B.B. King, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Tom Jones, Mighty Sam McLain and Ernie K'Doe. Bruce Springsteen sat in and played with Michael's band at the Maple Leaf Bar one memorable night in 1988, and Michael had the pictures and signed guitar to prove it. He played at all the major music festivals in town, including many years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He will be deeply missed by his daughter, Jennifer Sklar Vorkauf, son-in-law Sven Vorkauf, granddaughters Eden Vorkauf and Zoe Gruendler, sister Madeleine Sklar, niece Lila Sklar, nephew Isaac Harrison, great-niece Edrisina Sklar, and numerous beloved cousins and friends all over the country. Private celebrations of his life will be held in New Orleans and in San Francisco. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society and to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.schoenfh.com.