Broussard - Louisianas Zydeco

IMAGES
of America

LOUISIANAS ZYDECO

ON THE COVER: The Chenier brothers, Clifton and Cleveland Chenier, played in Clifton Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band. Clifton is pictured holding the accordion, and Cleveland is shown with the scrub/rub board. The brothers had two sisters, Delia (deceased) and Mary Louise. Mary L. Chenier Thomas enjoys a music career of her own and lives in Houston, Texas. (Courtesy of Michael Vital.)

IMAGES
of America

LOUISIANAS ZYDECO

Sherry T. Broussard

Copyright 2013 by Sherry T. Broussard
ISBN 978-1-4671-1005-1
Ebook ISBN 9781439643532

Published by Arcadia Publishing
Charleston, South Carolina

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012956243

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In memory and honor of Zydeco musicians from Louisianas past, present, and future who entertain the world

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you for the interviews, pictures, stories, and for sharing your favorite zydeco songs with me, Herman Fuselier, Laura Balthazar, Eva Noel, Sam Rogers, Donna Angelle, Leola S. Journet, Derrick Fontenette, Gerald Thompson, Ronnie Trahan, Carol Semien-Barfield, Lawrence Morrow, Lawrence Ardoin, Dorothy Doomes, Otis Doomes, Mary John, Rellis Chavis, Tyrone Glover, Robby Robinson, Patricia Threatt, Frazar Memorial Library Archives and Special Collections at McNeese State University, Stella Miller, Ulysses Charles, Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, Delores Guillory, Lena Charles, Clarence Etienne, Jim Bradshaw, Rose Marye Bradshaw, Anthony Rubin, Michael Vital, Sandra Solomon, Mary Louise Thomas, Delores Guillory, Pearl Trahan, John Sharp, the Center for Louisiana Studies at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Arcadia Publishing.

INTRODUCTION

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.

Marcus Garvey

Zydeco music has its own unique sound, its own unique beat, and its own unique place in American history. This book is based on interviews with living zydeco musicians and their family members and friends. Zydeco music is a family affair, with some members learning to play the music as young as three years old. Some musicians started with the rub board and gravitated to the accordion, which is the lead instrument of zydeco music. There are two types of accordions: diatonic and piano. The diatonic accordion has buttons on both sides and can have as many as three rows of buttons. The piano accordion, with a keyboard on the right-hand side and buttons on the left-hand side, is a popular choice for some zydeco musicians. Most zydeco musicians play both the button and piano accordions. Other musicians play the drums, bass and electric guitars, and the keyboard, adding to the robust zydeco tunes. Zydeco music is played at festivals, weddings, birthday parties, nightclub dances, parades, and at various balls (such as Mardi Gras and social balls) and on the road-winding trail rides from Louisiana to Texas. The lead singer in the zydeco band is usually the accordion player, who sings in Creole French and English. The accordion is the essential musical instrument of the zydeco band. The music has the effect to smooth away problems and troubles for a while. Some of the musicians describe themselves as Creoles. Most of the early and middle years, zydeco musicians speak, play, and sing in Creole French and in English. Many zydeco musicians play several instruments such as piano, organ, drums, guitars, and the scrub/rub board.

They come from neighborhoods known as the Bottom, Veazey, McComb, Back of Town, Dog Hill, and many others. They play music from their souls that touch the hearts of all who hear it. Zydeco band members are mostly related, predominately black; many are Creole or mixed ancestry and bilingual. They sing about life, love, hate, joy, sorrow, and happiness; and their music tells a story in Creole French and English that resonates from generation to generation. Many of the zydeco musicians are musically self-taught and inherited the gift of music from a family member, such as a grandfather, father, uncle, brother, or cousin who are or were bandleaders, accordion players, and singers. The younger zydeco players hear, observe, and attend practice sessions on front porches, in backyards, and, today, in home studios. Most of the musicians are naturally talented and have listened to the music from the time they were born. The music is as much a part of their daily routine as going to school or work. It is as simple as going to sleep and awakening to music that would eventually lead to the awarding of a Grammy to several of the musicians, such as Clifton Chenier, Queen Ida, Terrance Simien, Stanley Buckwheat Dural, Sidney Simien, and the latest winner, Chubby Carrier. A few years ago, zydeco music was given its own genre of music award with the Grammys. Terrence Simien and his wife worked diligently to get the zydeco award accepted. It lasted for about three years, and later, the Grammys removed zydeco as a single competition award. Perhaps the Grammy Award for zydeco will return; however, zydeco musicians will continue to write, sing, and play the music that stimulates the heart and stirs the soul.

Although most zydeco musicians, band managers, bandleaders, and singers are male, the women of zydeco play significant roles. Some of the women are mothers, wives, sisters, and girlfriends of the zydeco musicians. They provide the comforts of life, advice, and support and some serve as band managers. Many attend almost every performance of the zydeco bands. Their tasks are many and can be challenging and difficult at times, because they endure the painful sides as well as the prosperous sides of the zydeco musicians fame and success. Furthermore, there are some female zydeco band managers, bandleaders, accordion players, and singers. They play the accordion, keyboard, bass and electric guitars, drums, and the scrub/rub board. They travel and perform in Louisiana, on the East and West Coasts, across the United States, and internationally.

Zydeco musicians ride in parades like those celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. and Mardi Gras, playing music from the splendid floats. They participate in fundraisers and charity organizations such as Foodnet, Thanksgiving basket food drives, cancer research fundraisers, and school supply drives. They also play benefit dances to help defray the cost of medical or funeral expenses of citizens in various communities. Despite the joys and successes of most zydeco musicians and the pleasure that the music brings to people who enjoy it, zydeco musicians sometimes deal with the plagues of drug use, alcoholism, lack of sufficient health care, lack of life insurance, fierce competition, long nights, lack of rest, and the woes of managing or being part of a band. The musicians do not complain and insist that there is nothing that they enjoy more than playing zydeco music. The stages around the world are big and spacious waiting for the performances of the multi-talented musical genius of the magnificent zydeco bands. The more traditional zydeco musicians want the music to continue as it has for years and not change so much that it does not feel like true zydeco music. The younger and upcoming musicians play a blend of zydeco music and add some popular lines and some rap lyrics to their self-created songs.