King of the Bayous

After gaining initial notoriety in the '50s and '60s on and a variety of small Texas and Louisiana labels, Zydeco King brought the blues-fueled Cajun music he practically invented to 's roots label , subsequently recording a series of fine albums including 1970's . Featuring brother and longtime partner on rubboard, on drums, on bass and on guitar, includes 's standard blend of zydeco two-step, waltzes and blues, and provides an excellent taste of what the band no doubt played on countless one-niters along the Louisiana-Texas Gulf Coast. Zydeco-brand blues predominates with originals and in addition to a cover of the honky-tonk weeper Offering a contrast to the blues and something for the dancers, the band lays down a lively two-step beat on Throughout the varied set, 's irrepressible vocals and accordion playing stand out. A nice sample of bayou zydeco by one of its finest and most original practitioners. ~ Stephen Cook