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The name Ardoin has been “legend” within the Creole/Cajun music community for over a century. Amede and Alphonse “Boi Sec” Ardoin are two Creole musicians whose music influenced many, if not all, Creole/Cajun artist’s music heard today. Chris Ardoin, the next generation of many Ardoin musicians, has his own unique sound that has dancers and music lovers craving him, packing Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas clubs, churches, dance halls, trailrides, and festivals. He blends the traditional Creole music with r&b, rock, jazz, blues, country, and gospel. Chris was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana where he still resides today and attends McNeese St. University. He started playing the accordion at the young age of four and by the age of nine he had already played Carnegie Hall in New York. And by fourteen he had performed for over 500,000 people at the Monument in Washington D.C. Though he is only in his mid twenties, this 5’11”, 205lb man is a well seasoned and respected musician in all genres of music. Chris Ardoin and NuStep has traveled and entertained millions of people over the years not just in the crawfish circuit but also in far away places such as London, Sweden, Amsterdam, Jamaica, Mexico, and even Japan. Chris says, “It’s amazing to see how many people are interested in our culture and to see it grow from barely regional to worldwide. The only thing left to do now is to get Zydeco into mainstream America!” Chris does not speak Creole (which some refer to as broken French) but plans to learn. Chris’ father, Lawrence “Blaque” Ardoin and his family were born and raised in Duralde, Louisiana and in that area people were born speaking Creole and not English. They had to learn English in school. When the family would get together the adults would speak in Creole so the kids would not know what they were talking about which almost caused the death of a beautiful language. “It is now up to our generation to learn the language and keep our heritage alive,” says Chris. Chris’ mom, Mary, was raised in Kinder, Louisiana. Her family also has a musical background. Her uncles Charles and the late “Slim” Prudhomme were well known guitarist who played with the late John Delafose and her uncle Willis Prudhomme is a well know accordionist who leads his own band, the Zydeco Express.
After making special guest appearances for a few years with his father’s band, Chris and brother Sean formed their own band, Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin’, with Lawrence’s help. The band quickly gained a huge fan base with their infectious, energetic music which led to landing a deal with Rounder Records. In 1995, Rounder Records producer Scott Billington saw the band perform at the Plaisance Zydeco Festival and started discussing business immediately. Chris recorded three records with Rounder in the span of five years. In 1996, the band released “Gon Be Jus’ Fine” and in 1998 released “Turn The Page” which was voted OFFBEAT MAGAZINE ALBUM OF THE YEAR. But in 1999, a long overdue talk on plans for what direction the band would be going in between Chris, Sean, and father Lawrence led to a breakup. Chris, at the time a senior at Washington-Marion Magnet High School, had his own vision on what he wanted to do. Music was not the only thing Chris ever wanted to do. Sports was a big part of his life. Juggling between music and sports was the easiest thing and deciding which one will to continue after high school. Sean went on to start Sean Ardoin ‘n ZydeKool and Chris kept on trucking with Double Clutchin’. Chris then recorded a third album, “Best Kept Secret”, with Rounder and quickly got noticed as a solo artist. Since then, Chris has released three more cd’s: Life in 2002, “Save The Last Dance” in 2004, “Sweat” in 2005, “MVP” in 2006, and soon to be released January 4, 2008, “Candyman’s VIP”. In 2004 after the release of Save The Last Dance, Chris wanted to start over so to speak. Start from scratch and really set his self apart from the Double Clutchin name and do what he wanted the way he wanted to do it, Chris then headed to his studio to start the recording of “Sweat” and changed the name of the band to Chris Ardoin and NuStep. Three months later while at the Rock N Bowl in New Orleans the band was noticed by two movie producers and were featured in a Burt Reynolds movie called “Tempted”. Since changing the name to NuStep and creating a brand new sound, the band is at the top of its game. Chris says, “Music has given me more than one can imagine from awards, movies, traveling the world, and most of all giving audiences everywhere the joy of zydeco music. Somehow Chris manages to coach 6-12 year old kids recreational sports in Lake Charles with his busy work schedule but that’s to satisfy his love for sports and kids.
If you have not gotten a chance to see Chris Ardoin & NuStep perform, you are missing one heck of a show. The band consists of Chris “Candyman” Ardoin-accordion, Adrian “AJ” Bellow-drums, Trey “Neeko” Ardoin-guitar, Linden “Yung 1” Smith-scrubboard, Kenneth “Bo” Newman-bass, Cecil “C-Lo” Green-keyboards and Greg “Suga Bee” Guidry-equipment manager. The band mainly performs in SW Louisiana and SE Texas, but does ocassionally travel around the world. If you want to contact us on more band information please free to contact us via email: chris@chrisardoin.com or by phone at (337)494-1234. God bless!!!
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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.
Leon Chavis may not be a name you instantly recognize. 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 crowd as Leon sings the anthem: "Everybody comes 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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Thomas "Big Hat" Fields
Thomas "Big Hat" Fields from Church Point, Louisiana, ex-bronco buster, calf roper and bull rider, Thomas "Big Hat" Fields has come a long way to spread the gospel of Zydeco. Big Hat and his Footstompin' Zydeco Band have packed clubs and festivals in their home state of Louisiana, toured the U.S. from Seattle to New York and back again, embarked on a successful European tour and released six albums sharing their unique Creole heritage through music. In 2003, Thomas Fields was crowned "living legend" by his childhood hometown of Rayne, Louisiana, and he continues to establish himself in the national Zydeco circuit.
Big Hat leads a versatile, slick, show band with an enormous play list which is equally at home in Las Vegas, on Bourbon Street, or at Capitol Hill soirees. Having thus acquired his hard-earned reputation as a straight-shooting, no nonsense, professional artist, he can attract and surround himself with la creme of the South Louisiana musicians, including the legendary Paul "Kickin' Chicken'" "Big Bird" Edwards on drums and from England Barbara Moore on rubboard. Rounding out his supporting cast is on guitar, harmonica and vocals "Magic" Mike Weaver and bassist and more than capable chanteuse (singer), Geneva Thomas. Thomas' wife and ever faithful band partner of many years.
Thomas' show includes a variety of material because indeed it is a gumbo, chock full of musical genres which are bound to please anyone's palate, including Soul, Blues, Cajun, Swamp Pop, and, of course, Zydeco!
For US and International Booking, Please call (337) 873-4321 or (337) 277-4792
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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/
Lil Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers
With the release of Zydeco Ballin', Nathan Williams Jr.s first CD, the Williams family joins the other great Zydeco dynastiesArdoin, Broussard, Carrier, Chavis, Chenier, Delafose, Frankfamilies that have passed on a rich musical legacy to a new generation. Lil' Nathan's father is the leader of Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, one of the top Zydeco bands touring across the country. His uncle, Sid Williams, who is serving as manager of his nephew's band, is owner of El Sid Os in Lafayette, one of the principal venues for Zydeco music, a club where Buckwheat Zydeco used to perform regularly and where he recorded his last live album. According to Herman Fuselier in his liner notes to Zydeco Ballin, Lil Nathan began playing rubboard in his father’s band at age 5. He moved on to the drums and then the accordion, finding in his father an excellent teacher and role model. At age 14 when the CD was recorded, Lil Nathan demonstrates that he has already mastered all three types of accordionsdiatonic, triple-row, and piano (he posed with his accordions on the CD cover). The photos on this page, taken at the Zydeco Extravaganza in Lafayette in May 28, 2002, also show that he knows how to establish a stage presence that gets the crowd moving. His father wrote the songs on the CD, ranging from the flowing groove of "Ballin' on Zydeco" and "Where the Zydeco At?" to the nouveau Zydeco beat of "Bounce with It!" to the more traditional waltz rhythms of "Louisiana Boy," sung in English and French. Lil Nathan is now a 20 yr old Senior at the University Of Louisiana at Lafayette majoring is Jazz Studies with a concentration in Jazz Piano. He plans to recieve his Bachelor's at UL-Lafayette and then attend the University of Texas-Austin or UL-Lafayette and get his M A in Jazz Performance or Thoery Comp with Jazz Emphasis. Aside from that busy schedule he plans to get his teacher's certification. With that being said Lil Nathan wants to incorporate zydeco music on the High School&College Level.
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Same Ol 2 Step
Good zydeco music in southwest Louisiana is provided by some of the best musician in Louisiana. Many of the younger zydeco musicians style of playing are compatible to some of the older bands. This young band called Same Ol 2 step Zydeco is a pattern of Zydeco Force Band. They are a high-energy band and can produce old and new zydeco music. The touch of nouveau music put them at a different level. The demand for the music of those 2 steppin guys is growing daily. You can find the band playing at the Richard Club, Slim-Y-Ki Ki etc. The trail ride association has kept the group employed for the entire year. When you see these young musicians at work, you will see the best. Lil Wayne will make you dance. He is a young but knowledgeable accordionist and lead vocalist. Wayne is a very versatile musician. He has experience with many of the legendary groups. You have probably seen him on bass, guitar, drums and accordion. He has played with Zydeco Force, Keith Frank, Chris Ardoin, Sean Ardion, Andrea Thierry, Kojack, T-Broussard and many more. On many special occasions you will see Wayne and the band backing Lil Guyland.
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T-Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers
Bryant Keith "T" Broussard's fate as a Zydeco musician was sealed long before he was born. He is a descendent of Creole and zydeco music icons. His mother, Mary Jane Ardoin, stands alone as a female who has mastered the idiom of the traditional Creole accordion, a talent that was undoubtedly transcended from her uncle Bois Sec Ardoin, Creole music pioneer, her uncle Carlton Frank, world-known Creole violinist, and many others in the profession.
Besides his mother, whom Bryant credits for his love of the music, other relatives have also influenced him, such as his Great Uncles, the legendary Bois Sec Ardoin, and the Pioneer of Louisiana French Blues, Amede Ardoin. Also Included in that family trend is Queen Ida, the Grammy-winning Zydeco veteran of the West Coast.
Bryant recalls childhood memories of playing drums or scrub board while his mother performed for audiences at local dances. It was not until 1993, at the age of 21, that he began to take his talents seriously and established his own band. Since then he has worked with unwavering ambition to achieve excellence in his destined career.
Bryant's stage presence exudes a remarkable energy. He has been booked for performances from coast to coast. Some of his performances include both East and West Coast tours. A few of the festivals Bryant has performed in includes the Memphis, Tennessee Beale Street Festival, the Sparks, Nevada July 4th Festival, the Alabama Blues Festival, and the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival. Other prominent local Louisiana events include the Zydeco Extravaganza in Opelousas, The Cajun Hot Sauce Festival in New Iberia, The MudBug Festival in Shreveport, and numerous casino performances in Lake Charles, Kinder, Vinton, Marksville, and New Orleans. Some of his musical recordings can even be heard as the background music to promotional radio commercials and a Discovery Channel television program.
Accordionist, singer, and songwriter are among several of Bryant's musical talents. He also plays drums, scrub board, and bass guitar. Although zydeco music is Bryant's primary performance style, he also plays traditional Creole music.
Bryant released ablums titled "Knock, Knock," Git It On, Git It On," and "Party Time" his latest album titled "Zydeco Lover" was released in February of 2007 and has qualifed Bryant as one of the first Creole Zydeco nominees in the new Zydeco Grammy catagory .
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Pine Leaf Boys
The Pine Leaf Boys have made a name for presenting their own inimitable brand of traditional Cajun and Creole music with youthful exuberance. Being described as, "... the link that connects the young and the old generations," and, "the best new, energetic, and fun Cajun band in a very long time," the Pine Leaf Boys play the old fashion dance hall standards while making a point to bring many of the more obscure songs of past masters into their repertoire and play them with gusto. The variety and energy they release evolves through their shows, bringing multi-faceted angles to Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco.
Steeped in music since children and hailing from farms and towns in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf Boys have preserved the traditional Cajun sound, while allowing it to breathe and stretch with those who play it. They present their music in multiple configurations such a twin fiddle, duo accordion/fiddle, bass, drum, and foot-stomping jurés.
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Tip Tops
The Tip Tops are a high-energy dance and show band based out of Mobile , AL . Their musical emphasis is "60's", "Motown" and "Rhythm & Blues." The 4 Tops, Otis Redding, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye are just a sample of the artists The Tip Tops cover. Mix in some "50's" from Elvis and Sam Cooke and some "80's" from Kool and The Gang and The Commodores and you have three decades of musical history.
Beautiful, sensuous, and glittering are just a few words to describe "The Toppettes" which is a show in itself. These young ladies have mesmerized audiences throughout the southeast. The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and The Pointer Sisters are just a few of the artists "The Toppettes" bring to your venue.
The high-energy, fast-stepping brass section (The Dancing Horns) make The Tip Tops a total entertainment package. Five part harmony, choreography, and costume changes will ensure your audience of a most enjoyable evening.
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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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Cedryl Ballou and the Zydeco Trendsetters
Cedryl Ballou was born in Lake Charles, LA on March 19th, 1983. He made his music debut at the tender age of five years old. When Cedryl was 12, he was playing drums professionally with his Grandfather Classie Ballou, Sr.
Cedryl's love for Zydeco music is in his blood. Being of Creole descent, he has been around Zydeco music all his life. He received his first accordian at 14. That accordian was all it took to make him the Zydeco man he is today.
Cedryl is now 22 years old and is playing to sold out crowds throughout the Texas and Louisiana area. He has been playing Zydeco music professionally for three years and has released three albums. Cedryl had the first Zydeco video to air on television. He also owns Trendsetter Zydeco Records, his own record label and publishing company.
Cedryl's band consists of legendary guitarist Classie Ballou, Sr.; grandfather, Cedric Ballou; father (bass guitarist), CaCean Ballou; aunt (rhythm guitarist), Cam Ron Ballou; cousin. As you can see this is definitely a family band and together they make "Cedryl Ballou and the Zydeco Trendsetters."
So if you hear Cedryl is in your town then put on your dancing shoes and go see him. I promise he puts on a show you will talk about for a long time.
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