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Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames
Leon Chavis has bold ambitions: He wants to change the way you listen, understand and dance to Zydeco music. For Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames, this push forward means looking back and re-examining, mastering, understanding the roots of Zydeco Music and Creole culture. For Leon, he wants to unleash the accordion's full potential as a musical instrument that can further convey a story of a living tradition in a wide range of emotions.
Born and raised in Lawtell, Louisiana, He's a lot like the kid living next door to you that you watch grow up into something special. With his humble demeanor, easy going attitude and country boy charm, Leon Chavis could easily be somebody that you know, hang out with on a trail ride, or see at a local town festival.
However, make no mistake: Leon Chavis is a part of a new generation of Zydeco Musicians proving that real talent, hard work, persistence, and charisma still have a place in the music industry. A formally trained musician versed in a variety of instruments, Leon comes from a tradition of music and a world musical experience that encompasses Creole music, Zydeco, Southern Soul, R & B, and jazz.
Anchored, by his father and mentor, Joseph "Chopper" Chavis, a gifted singer, producer and songwriter with over 20 years of experience in the music industry, and the vision of Russel Labbe (one of the group's founders), Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames are a formidable musical group whose silky vocals and high energy performances are making the world take notice! The band has become a favorite on the trailride scene, with local church bazaars, festivals and clubs, as well as performing at various musical festivals nation wide.
With his incredibly smooth voice, clever lyrics, and 12 red hot tracks, his debut CD, The Heat is On, is a multi-faceted project that is rooted in tradition, yet clearly incorporate contemporary musical elements and experiences of today's musicans.
There is a fresh new sound and movement in the Zydeco Nation. One can hear the rumblings over the sounds of the crowd as Leon sings the anthem: "Everybody come on out, just to hear Leon and the Zydeco Flames, because the Heat is On!"
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames
Phone: (337) 692-2611
Email: leon@leonchavis.com
Biography Revised by: Rod Sias ( www.zydecoonline.com )
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Curley Taylor, vocals, accordian
Curley Taylor was born and raised in Louisiana and has been around music all of his life. At the age of 16 Curley started playing drums in his father's band, (Jude Taylor & His Burning Flames) which is deep in Louisiana Blues, Soul and Zydeco.
By the age of 25, Curley had played drums for some of Louisiana 's finest legends including: CC Adcock, Steve Riley, John Hart, "Lil" Bob of the Lollipops, and his uncles, "Lil Buck" Senegal and Wayne "Blue" Burns. He traveled with CJ Chenier, also considered a great Louisiana legend. While traveling with Mr. Chenier, Curley found an interest in playing the accordion. After practicing and playing the accordion, Curley enjoyed it. He was told he "played the drums and the accordion with great emotion and natural feeling."
Curley purchased an accordion and learned to play it in about six months. During this time, friends Keith Clements (keyboard player) and Erick Minix (drummer) approached Curley and asked him to start his own band. He agreed. Soon after agreeing to record a CD, Geno Delafose offered Curley a job playing the drums in his band, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie. He began working for Mr. Delafose and worked for him for several years. Curley found it hard to practice while traveling and touring, but found a way to produce his first CD Country Boy .
This CD is Curley's first produced project. Artists have compared his music to the great Beau Jocque. "It's a high compliment," Curley said, "but this is only the start." Look forward to Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble coming to a town near you soon!
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http://www.curleytaylor.com/
Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie
Geno Delafose is the son of the great Zydeco accordionist John Delafose. Geno lives a few miles north of Eunice in the same rural area of Duralde where his father was born. Geno's Double D Ranch, where for the past few years he has invited everyone to annual fan appreciation parties, consists of a simple frame house, horse stables, and a spread of land. He is proud of his rural roots, and in his life he carries on the rural traditions of hard work, friendship, and generosity. Like his brothers, he began playing with his father's band, the Eunice Playboys, at an early age, first on rubboard, then on drums, and finally, after his father developed heart trouble, on accordion. He mastered both the diatonic and piano accordions, singing both in French and English.
After forming his own band, French Rockin Boogie, young Delafose developed his own repetoire, often taking standards from the Creole and Cajun traditions and giving them new Zydeco energy while still remaining faithful to structure of the original song. His versions of Cajun songs like D.L. Menard's "La porte d'en arrière," the Balfa Brothers' "Mon vrai amour," Iry LeJeune's "Donnez moi mon chapeau," or Lawrence Walker's "'Tit yeux noirs" add new dimensions to some great songs. He performs invigorating, fresh versions of songs played by his father and by Creole musicians like Canray Fontenot, such as "Bernadette," "Tes parents ne veulent plus me voir," "Ma 'tite fille est gone," "Bye, bye mon nèg," 'Quo faire," "Valse de Opelousas," and "The Eunice Two Step." All of Geno Delafose's CDs have been released by Rounder.
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