Musicians Turn Up The Heat For Zydeco Extravaganza
27th Annual Zydeco Extravaganza Anchors Memorial Day Weekend!
May 22, 2013
by Herman Fuselier
The Advertiser
Leon Chavis’ zydeco career has taken him to England, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Haiti. Chavis is also a former trumpet player in the world-famous Southern University Jaguar Marching Band.
But one of Chavis’ favorite musical memories is performing at Zydeco Extravaganza, a zydeco tradition held every Sunday before Memorial Day since 1987.
“That event means a lot to me and the generation before me,” said Chavis, 31. “I remember being a kid watching it on TV. I feel like it’s a historical event, and I’m honored to be part of it.
“There’s a new generation of zydeco, and a lot of times, I don’t get to play for the older generation because the music has changed. But at that event, everybody comes together. It feels like we’re making history again.
“I feel honored to be one of the top dogs in the festival. I get the late time, I’m on the flyer. It lets me know how far I’ve come as a person and artist. I used to play at 1 o’clock. Now I’m playing before Keith Frank. That’s exciting for me.”
Chavis makes more memories at the 27th annual Zydeco Extravaganza Sunday at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas. More than 5,000 attend this event on two stages, which begins at noon and continues until midnight.
Entertainers include Keith Frank, Chavis, Chris Ardoin, Geno Delafose, Cupid, Brian Jack, Same Ol’ 2 Step, Curley Taylor, Double Trouble Zydeco, Koray Broussard and many more. The event includes the amateur accordion contest, which has launch the career of some of today’s zydeco artists.
Zydeco Extravaganza always includes surprises, with featured bands turning up the entertainment heat. Keith Frank, known for grand entrances, had his band members dress as Prince, Michael Jackson and other pop icons as they made their way on stage.
Promoter Dustin Cravins says fans can expect more of the same.
“Keith’s show will be pretty impressive,” said Cravins. “I can’t say what Keith is going this year, but it’s going to be well worth the price of admission.
“Chris is doing some special stuff. As always, the showmanship is going to be second to none.
“You never know who is going to show up, and that’s the beauty of Extravaganza. You never know if Jeffery (Broussard) will jump on stage and play with somebody or Terrance (Simien) will sing with somebody if he’s passing through town. Like we say all the time, it really is the Creole homecoming.”
Chavis, making his sixth appearance at Zydeco Extravaganza, is enjoying his rising stardom in zydeco. With four CDs in the past five years, Chavis and his Zydeco Flames band are in top demand on the prime zydeco circuit, which roughly stretches from along I-10 from New Orleans to Houston.
Although he’s toured internationally, Chavis enjoys playing close to his home in the St. Landry Parish hamlet of Lawtell.
“It was always in my heart to be able to play the new style of zydeco because I’m young,” said Chavis. “To be able to do that now is really a dream come true. I can play and be at my house the same night.
“So many musicians leave their families for four or five months because they have to. I thank God I don’t have to. Coming up, I’m playing in Church Point and Houston, and I like playing in Texas.
“Texas has been showing so much love to zydeco. But unfortunately, only a few of us can do it there, and I’m blessed to be a part of that elite group. At one time, if you could play an accordion, you could get some work. But now, there’s a lot of competition.”
His latest CD, “The Champ is Here,” features collaborations with Cupid, creator of the dance craze and 2-million-selling single, “The Cupid Shuffle,” Southern soul sensation Tucka, Houston zydeco star Brian Jack, Koray Broussard, a descendant of one of zydeco’s premier families, and S Dot.
Just last week, Chavis released a new single, “Goody Goody,” which borrows heavily from Frankie Lymon’s 1957 hit of the same name. Lymon’s brief but successful music career inspired the 1998 movie, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
Chavis said he resurrected the song to prove a point.
“I have my own studio, so I write every day. This song stood out to me because I was getting a lot of criticism for doing the hip-hop and R&B zydeco. People said, ‘You can’t play the old stuff no more.’
“I was playing around with the old Frankie Lymon tune, and I was a little skeptical because it was different for me. But when people hear it, they’re excited about the song. It pushed me to do more singing and I was able to pay homage to one of the great R&B singers.
“I really enjoy going back and taking some of those old songs. It spiritually does something to me.”
27th Annual Zydeco Extravaganza Anchors Memorial Day Weekend!
May 22, 2013
by Herman Fuselier
The Advertiser
 |
More than 5,000 fans annually attend Zydeco Extravaganza at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas. Photo Credit: David Simpson |
But one of Chavis’ favorite musical memories is performing at Zydeco Extravaganza, a zydeco tradition held every Sunday before Memorial Day since 1987.
“That event means a lot to me and the generation before me,” said Chavis, 31. “I remember being a kid watching it on TV. I feel like it’s a historical event, and I’m honored to be part of it.
“There’s a new generation of zydeco, and a lot of times, I don’t get to play for the older generation because the music has changed. But at that event, everybody comes together. It feels like we’re making history again.
“I feel honored to be one of the top dogs in the festival. I get the late time, I’m on the flyer. It lets me know how far I’ve come as a person and artist. I used to play at 1 o’clock. Now I’m playing before Keith Frank. That’s exciting for me.”
Chavis makes more memories at the 27th annual Zydeco Extravaganza Sunday at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas. More than 5,000 attend this event on two stages, which begins at noon and continues until midnight.
Entertainers include Keith Frank, Chavis, Chris Ardoin, Geno Delafose, Cupid, Brian Jack, Same Ol’ 2 Step, Curley Taylor, Double Trouble Zydeco, Koray Broussard and many more. The event includes the amateur accordion contest, which has launch the career of some of today’s zydeco artists.
Zydeco Extravaganza always includes surprises, with featured bands turning up the entertainment heat. Keith Frank, known for grand entrances, had his band members dress as Prince, Michael Jackson and other pop icons as they made their way on stage.
Promoter Dustin Cravins says fans can expect more of the same.
“Keith’s show will be pretty impressive,” said Cravins. “I can’t say what Keith is going this year, but it’s going to be well worth the price of admission.
“Chris is doing some special stuff. As always, the showmanship is going to be second to none.
“You never know who is going to show up, and that’s the beauty of Extravaganza. You never know if Jeffery (Broussard) will jump on stage and play with somebody or Terrance (Simien) will sing with somebody if he’s passing through town. Like we say all the time, it really is the Creole homecoming.”
Chavis, making his sixth appearance at Zydeco Extravaganza, is enjoying his rising stardom in zydeco. With four CDs in the past five years, Chavis and his Zydeco Flames band are in top demand on the prime zydeco circuit, which roughly stretches from along I-10 from New Orleans to Houston.
Although he’s toured internationally, Chavis enjoys playing close to his home in the St. Landry Parish hamlet of Lawtell.
“It was always in my heart to be able to play the new style of zydeco because I’m young,” said Chavis. “To be able to do that now is really a dream come true. I can play and be at my house the same night.
“So many musicians leave their families for four or five months because they have to. I thank God I don’t have to. Coming up, I’m playing in Church Point and Houston, and I like playing in Texas.
“Texas has been showing so much love to zydeco. But unfortunately, only a few of us can do it there, and I’m blessed to be a part of that elite group. At one time, if you could play an accordion, you could get some work. But now, there’s a lot of competition.”
His latest CD, “The Champ is Here,” features collaborations with Cupid, creator of the dance craze and 2-million-selling single, “The Cupid Shuffle,” Southern soul sensation Tucka, Houston zydeco star Brian Jack, Koray Broussard, a descendant of one of zydeco’s premier families, and S Dot.
Just last week, Chavis released a new single, “Goody Goody,” which borrows heavily from Frankie Lymon’s 1957 hit of the same name. Lymon’s brief but successful music career inspired the 1998 movie, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
Chavis said he resurrected the song to prove a point.
“I have my own studio, so I write every day. This song stood out to me because I was getting a lot of criticism for doing the hip-hop and R&B zydeco. People said, ‘You can’t play the old stuff no more.’
“I was playing around with the old Frankie Lymon tune, and I was a little skeptical because it was different for me. But when people hear it, they’re excited about the song. It pushed me to do more singing and I was able to pay homage to one of the great R&B singers.
“I really enjoy going back and taking some of those old songs. It spiritually does something to me.”
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