Musicians Aaron and Charles Neville on their book, 'The Brothers'

(CNN) -- Art, Aaron, Charles, and Cyril Neville have been performing and recording for nearly five decades. Together and separately, either as the Neville Brothers or part of the Meters, they have produced some of New Orleans' most distinctive music.

Since 1978 they have recorded fourteen albums together, including the Grammy-winning "Yellow Moon" and "Fiyo on the Bayou." "The Brothers," written with David Ritz, is a chronicle of their lives.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Aaron and Charles Neville, and welcome.

Aaron Neville: Hi audience!

Charles Neville: Hello!

Chat Moderator: What prompted you to write this book?

Charles Neville: The fact that someone was interested in what our lives were like ... that was the main inspiration.

Aaron Neville: We've had some involvement with writing. We wanted to write it ourselves, and not have someone write it without our input.

Chat Moderator: How did growing up in New Orleans shape your music?

Charles Neville: One thing about its affect on music is that music is just a part of the way of life there. It's not separate from regular everyday life. We grew up seeing music as just a part of us, not something you learn to do for a special purpose. That's one of the unique qualities in our music, that we played it because we love it, and it's part of us, and it allows us to express some of what we are.

Question from Brownie: Do you guys come from a singing family?

Charles Neville: Yes.

Question from Aisle: How difficult did you find combining personal info with the musical side?

Aaron Neville: It all came together, it's all part of each other, it's intertwined.

Chat Moderator: What were the obstacles in writing with four people? What were the advantages?

Aaron Neville: I didn't see any obstacles, because we talked to each one individually. No one stepped on toes or anything. David Ritz would come to each one of us for three or four days, over a period of a couple of years.

Question from Aisle: What was the most interesting memory or recollection that you came across when writing the book?

Charles Neville: For me, there wasn't any one. There were many!

Aaron Neville: Same for me!

Question from Slayer: Did drugs ever play a negative role in your performances over the years?

Aaron Neville: I wouldn't know about it if it did. As far as I'm concerned, we sounded good. I heard Keith Richards say something, though, when you're on drugs, you might feel like you're doing more than you're actually doing. I've been on drugs, and I've thought the music was great, but I don't know ... that was my opinion while I was on drugs.

Charles Neville: Yes, there were times when being on and involved with the drugs had a negative effect. Not on the performance of the music, but the ability to be where I was supposed to be, and when I was supposed to be there.

Chat Moderator: Did Aaron's success with "Tell It Like It Is" in 1966/67 throw off the balance between the brothers?

Charles Neville: No, it didn't. At that time we weren't all working together. We were each doing separate things.

Aaron Neville: Art and I were traveling then, on the radio and other things. We had some success then, not really with money, but we toured the Apollo, and with Otis Redding.

Charles Neville: To me, it always seemed that a success for any one of us was a success for all of us.

Question from LJNoel-CNN: What do you guys think was the most rewarding part of your careers?

Aaron Neville: It's right now. We've been together since 1976, and we're still together. That's real rewarding.

Charles Neville: That's exactly what I'd say. The most rewarding thing is that we're still doing it together now.

Question from BlazinADoobie: What is your opinion of Keith Richards?

Aaron Neville: I know him ... he's a great guy and a great musician. I'd like to make some music together with him in the future.

Question from Jeff-CNN: I loved "Don't Know Much" with Aaron and Linda Ronstadt. Who are some of your favourite artists?

Aaron Neville: Linda Ronstadt. I also did a duet with Tricia Yearwood. All around, my favorite is Clyde McPhatter, and my brother Art. Then ... Nat King Cole -- my dad had all his records. I used to think I was Nat King Cole at one time. Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye ... lots of them. Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

Question from Aisle: Would you agree with a film version of the book?

Aaron Neville: Sure!

Charles Neville: Yes!

Chat Moderator: What is the most surprising thing people will learn from reading the book?

Aaron Neville: That we weren't always angels.

Chat Moderator: What do you want people to take away from the book?

Aaron Neville: For one thing, to know we're human like everyone else. That we've had a life like average people. When we do our music, we try to tell part of our lives in our music.

Charles Neville: Even though there were negative periods in our lives, we'd like for people, especially younger people, to know that you can survive negative times, and rebuild your life into something really positive.

Question from LJNoel-CNN: You seem to have branched out into so many genres, like a duet with Tricia Yearwood, a country singer, as well as others. Do you try to incorporate various genres into your own music?

Aaron Neville: Yes, my favorite thing is other kinds of music, like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. I like spirituals when I was a kid, and other things. I like each kind of thing that's around.

Question from BlazinADoobie: What are your thoughts on hip-hop music?

Charles Neville: My son is doing a little hip-hop, and I think it's a real artistic type of music. They can really express themselves. For some, it might stop them from doing some negative stuff. They have a chance to get on the radio, make a record, do something positive, while at the same time avoiding some of the negative stuff around them. They can be heard.

Question from Hatch: How would you best describe your vocal style and technique?

Aaron Neville: It's just a part of all the music I've heard. I grew up singing as a child and teenager. First I was a cowboy, then Nat King Cole, then Clyde McPhatter. I'm a mixture of all the people I've tried to be, combined with what God gave me. I can say I'm a mixture of the strength and wisdom of my father, the love and tenderness of my mother, and the innocence of my childhood.

Chat Moderator: Who were your biggest influences growing up?

Charles Neville: My biggest influences were some of the musicians who played in the marching bands in New Orleans, and the performers I saw at an early age, like Louis Jordan, and the rhythm and blues performers who didn't make money from it, but who performed anyway. Then later, the music of the great jazz singers, like Lester Young and Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and some of the great jazz musicians I got to work with playing in rhythm and blues bands.

Question from LJNoel-CNN: What do you feel you have yet to accomplish in your careers?

Charles Neville: A triple platinum record!

Aaron Neville: I'll go along with that. Also, we have a spiritual album coming out this month called "Devotion." I'd like to do some doo-wop, and a children's album, more spiritual stuff. I'd like to do some more with my brothers.

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us today?

Aaron Neville: I just hope you'll all read the book and learn more about the Nevilles and come see us in our shows, and get our feelings for our music.

Charles Neville: I just hope that reading the book will help give people a little more of an understanding of where our music is coming from.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today

Charles Neville: Goodbye, and we've enjoyed it!

Aaron Neville: God bless! Peace!

Aaron and Charles Neville joined the chat via telephone from Louisiana and Massachusetts, respectively. CNN provided a typist for them. The above is an edited transcript of the chat, which took place on Tuesday, September 19, 2000.

Little, Brown & Co.: 'The Brothers'

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