Walter "Popee" Lastie

Walter Daniel Lastie (September 18, 1938 – December 28, 1980), also known as "Popee", was an American rhythm & blues and jazz drummer from the musical Lastie family who played and recorded with many of New Orleans' leading R&B musicians.

Walter Lastie, was born September 18, 1938, in New Orleans to Frank and Alice Hill Lastie. Walter's five siblings were brothers Chester, Melvin, David, and Joseph, and sister Betty Ann. The family lived in the lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. Frank Lastie had been sent to the Colored Waifs Home for boys as a youth. "One of his first engagements was in the Waif's home with Louis Armstrong," according to drummer Herlin Riley, Lastie's grandson. Riley said the boys received their first musical training at the juvenile detention school. In the 1920s Frank Lastie became a disciple of Mother Catherine Seals, a trombone-playing leader of the Spiritual movement. She and other Black Spiritualist preachers encouraged their congregations to follow Psalm 98 and "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord". At Mother Catherine Seal's request, Deacon Frank Lastie introduced drums into her Spiritual Church rituals in the late 1920s. Lastie played regularly in church, and taught his children music there. Four of his children subsequently became professional musicians. Melvin played trumpet, David played saxophone, Walter played drums, and Betty Ann became a gospel singer.