Zulu King
Melvin Labat 2024
Unlike any of the other New Orleans carnival krewes, the Zulu King is elected. Other krewes appoint their King and Queens, while the Zulu process includes a campaign to earn votes.Campaigning and the parties to secure votes are as much fun as carnival itself. The remaining Zulu Characters are also elected and includes the Big Shot, who tries to upstage the King.
Zulu King History
1909 William Story
1910 William J. Crawford
1911 Alex Washington
1912 Peter Williams
1913 James Bolton
1914 Henry Harris
1914 John White
1915 John White
1917 James Robertson
1918-1919 War
1920 Freddie Brown
1921 James Robertson
1922 Herbert Permillion
1923 Joseph Kahoe
1924 Adrian Hippolite
1925 Baley Robertson
1926 Joseph L. Smith
1927 Arnold L. Moss
1928 Henry Hicks
1929 Wurry Watson
1930 Paul Johnson
1931 Allen Leon
1932 Alonzo Butler
1933 Allen Leon
1934 Leopold LeBlanc
1935 Baptiste Giles
1936 Edward Hewlett
1937 Arthur Royal
1938 Leopold LeBlanc
1939 Allen James
1940 Emmanuel Bernard
1941 Alonzo Butler
1942-1945 War
1946 Clen Vandage
1947 Joseph Warrington
1948 James Smith
1949 Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong
1950 William Poole
1959 Melvin Green
1960 Baptiste Giles
1961 Henry Johnson
1962 Melvin Green
1963 William Poole
1964 Edward Johnson
1965 Milton Bienamee
1966 Alfred “Al” Barnes
1967 Milton Bienamee
1968 William “Honey” Boykins
1969 Elizah J. Peters
1970 Milton Bienamee
1971 Henry “Bo” Berry
1972 Arthur “Sonny Boy” Carter
1973 Steve “Bulldog Buddy” Johnson
1975 Harold Doley
1976 Dr. Lawler P. Daniels Jr.
1977 A.J. “Chuck” Mercadel
1978 Willie L. Papin
1979 Joseph O. Misshore, Jr.
1980 Elliot Boisdore
1981 John Elliot Adams
1982 Charles L. Givens
1983 Jesse J. Balancier
1984 Alfred H. Gordon
1985 Eddie R. Carter
1986 Louis Augustin
1987 Fred Thomas
1988 Arthur Vigne
1989 Owens “OJ” Haynes
1990 Keith E. Weatherspoon
1991 Charles E. Hamilton, Jr.
1992 James “Jim” Russell
1993 Oscar Piper
1994 David Belfield
1995 Straughter Prophet
1996 Louis R. Rainey, Jr.
1998 Wallace Broussard
1999 Dr. Myron Moorehead
2000 Roy E. Glapion, Jr.
2001 Melvin A. Armour
2002 Louis “Tony” Williams
2003 Gary A. Thornton
2004 Gerard M. Johnson
2005 Isaac “Ike” Wheeler
2006 No Elections Due to Hurricane Katrina
2007 Larry A. Hammond
2008 Frank Boutte’
2009 Tyrone Anthony Mathieu, Sr.
2010 Jimmie L. Felder
2011 Anthony Barker Sr.
2012 Elroy Anthony James
2013 Cedric George Givens
2014 Garren Thomas Mims Sr.
2015 Andrew "Pete" Sanchez Jr.
2016 Jay H. Banks
2017 Adonis Charles Exposé
2018 Brent Darien Washington Sr.
2019 George V. Rainey
2020 Brian M. Sims
2022 Randolph "Rudy" Davis
2023 Nicholls "Nick" Spears
2024 Melvin Labat
