Leroy Thomas is enjoying his newfound fame. A zydeco musician for 31 years, Thomas estimates he’s traveled a million miles in the last 12 years with countless trips to Texas, California and beyond.
Now Thomas is performing at least 17 gigs a month in his home state of Louisiana. In recent weeks, he’s done photo shoots and interviews for magazines and newspapers, stretching from Lake Charles to New Orleans. Read more
Cedryl Ballou couldn’t help but play zydeco. The music and his family share deep roots. In 1954, Cedryl’s grandfather, Classie Ballou, played with Boozoo Chavis on zydeco’s first commercial hit, “Paper in My Shoe. The late Rockin’ Sidney, Grammy winner and composer of zydeco’s lone million seller, “My Toot Toot,” was Cedryl’s maternal grandmother’s husband. When Cedryl plays his white, triple-row accordion, he’s carrying some of Rockin’ Sidney with him. Read more
Willis Prudhomme was born in 1931 in Kinder, LA, one of twelve children. A farmer, Prudhomme played harmonica while riding his tractor in the fields. Read more
For two years, Soul Creole, a Cajun and zydeco jam band, created a buzz that captured attention from gigs before movie stars in New Orleans to NPR. But commitments to other bands and family matters have forced members to put the group on “indefinite hiatus,” according to founder and fiddler Louis Michot. Read more
Paul Scott admits he had little interest in zydeco music when he graduated from Opelousas High School in 1982. That same year, a strange concept, something called a zydeco festival, was launched in the nearby community of Plaisance.
A year later, Scott was selling tickets to the event – the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. Thirty years later, zydeco festivals stretch from California to Raamsdonksveer, Holland. Read more
Pound for pound is an old term used in boxing. It often refers to a fighter who may not be the biggest, tallest, fastest and strongest.
But judging his overall skills and abilities, he is the best boxer around – regardless of weight class.
In the world of zydeco accordion players, Jeffery Broussard doesn’t have the biggest name. He doesn’t draw the biggest crowds (at least, not at home) or have the most girlfriends.
But pound for pound, Jeffery Broussard is the best accordion player around. Read more
Dwayne Dopsie remembers that fateful day in 1999. Dospie, then 16, told his mom he was quitting school to play zydeco.
His father, zydeco legend Rockin’ Dopsie, had died six years earlier. Dwayne had a burning desire to follow in his footsteps.
“After he passed away, it seemed like everything changed,” said Dopsie, 36. “My interest for school went out the door. I told my mom that I wanted to play. She said ‘You’re going to need that schooling to fall back on.’ Read more
