Zydeco is King Lil Rob and the Zydeco Studs

Zydeco is King Lil Rob and the Zydeco Studs

October 1, 2014

By Robert L. Schaadt
The Vindicator

Lil Rob, standing ready to put on the show. Lil Rob, Robert Pitre, Jr., of Beaumont, enjoys his Zydeco, playing the accordion and keeping a family tradition alive.
(photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

When Grandfather Wild Bill Pitre turned to his grandson, Robert Pitre, Jr., with a deliberate look and in a serious tone said: “Do not let the music die, I know you got it in you.  Let me see what you got.” 

Wild Bill handed his grandson the accordion and his life mission was born. Lil Rob determined to play the music and master the accordion.

Lil Rob followed his passion and his grandfather’s advise, and has fulfilled the trust placed in him, continuing the music, the family tradition, and laying the groundwork as a noted Zydeco player.

Growing up in Cheek, Texas, Lil Rob knew the music and loved the old school Creole and Zydeco Music.  Since his family provided the background and Southeast Texas provided the cultural influences, it was hard to miss.

Of course he loved the music of Clifton Chenier, Boozoo Chavis, and Beau Jocque to name a few of the old school influences.

L-R:  Donald Simien on bass, Michael Brignac on accordian and vocals, Leonard James on scrubboard, Lil Rob on drums, Edward Poullard on guitar.  James and Poullard were sharing that LaLa music. (photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

Lil Rob studies the new school too or the younger generational musicians, his contemporaries, so popular these days, and sometimes referred to as the nouveau zydeco. These include Leon Chavis, J. Paul, Jr., Step Rideau, Bryan Jack and Geno Delafose.

Pitre mentioned the music of Chris Ardoin, a Zydeco accordionist who helped form the nouveau zydeco that fused traditional with hip-hop, reggae and R&B, as another influence.

Lil Rob though combines Creole music and traditional Zydeco, along with over 65 songs that he has composed since he started his quest.  

As he stated:  “We’re ready to move, you move your feet to this stud beat.”  As a bandleader, Lil Rob gets his fellow travelers moving in the right direction and it definitely moves your feet, and for that matter your soul.  He is keeping the music alive, along with the style that makes Zydeco so special regardless whether it is new or old style.  

Zydeco makes you want to dance, to be glad even when it’s expressing the blues or reminding us of a sad time in the original French.  It is music that puts a smile on your face, and the smile of Lil Rob and the smiles of his band members are hard to miss.

Other influences are close friends including his current band members Don Semien on bass, Leonard James on drums, and Michael Brignac on scrubboard. 

Edward Poullard, a friend to the Pitre Family for many years, was a special guest guitar player in Raywood at Lantree’s Creole Sunday, Sept. 21. Poullard and Semien share their experience and knowledge with the younger generation. 

Lil Rob does the same with his son, Seth, who occasionally plays drums for this father.

Above:  Lil Rob on drums, Michael Brignac on accordion, Leonard James on scrubboard.  

Below:  Lil Rob plays his Dino Baffetti accordion that is made in Italy.  The instrument is appreciated for its sound, technical perfection, aesthetic details and manufacturing quality. 

(photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

A family tradition is a theme that runs true for many Zydeco musicians.  Lil Rob has been playing accordion for over eleven years and his band has been together for six years.  His father had band, Rob Pitre and the Zydeco Playboys for many years.  His grandfather Wild Bill Pitre played too, noted for his Cajun fiddle and his blues music.  Now Rob is passing it on to his son.

One could say Lil Rob’s style is a blend of traditional and modern, from Acadian two stepping to Creole Waltzes with modern spices thrown in for good measure.

Zydeco has always blended several traditions into its own.  The blues, rock and roll, country, Creole, and French folk music were all part of the mix.  

Lil Rob, Robert Pitre, Jr., of Beaumont, Texas(photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

Lil Rob touches on all of these styles and more, singing French as easy as English, doing a rock number, or playing a moving waltz.  He plays the button box, used to be known as the country accordion, and then by the end of the set, he will be playing the mix with the piano accordion.

He knows where is going in the set list and works as a maestro.  There is no doubt that he will be one of the future Zydeco super stars for he is already a star.

Edward Poullard, fiddler, accordian maker and recognized Creole musician, played guitar for Lil Rob, being a Zydeco Stud for the day in Raywood.  The Smithsonian Museum recognized Poullard’s contributions to Creole and Zydeco in 2008. He has played at their Folk Life Festival. The Texas Rice Festival named Poullard as one of its 2014 Cajun Award Recepient recognizing his accomplishments. including being the first documented accordion maker of Creole descent.

(photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

Writing his own songs will insure his success and he is well on his way with completing his first CD, the working title is Zydeco Sensation.  

On the web site Reverbnation, one can listen to four of Lil Rob’s original songs:  Do you?, Zydeco Sensation, No good women, and Special edition. Added to his outstanding accordion playing, Lil Rob shows his talents in his vocals, especially his phrasing, on the scrubboard, the bass, keyboards and the drums, the first instrument he played with his father’s band. 

He easily shares the spotlight with his other players, even letting Michael Brignac take over on the vocals and accordion during their sets.

Lil Rob, Robert Pitre, Jr., of Beaumont, Texas(photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

Lil Rob and the Zydeco Studs have played a number of important venues in Lake Charles, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Cheek, Kountze, Lufkin, and Rivon’s Arena in Raywood, along with appearances at Creole Sunday at Langetree Retreat & Eco Center in Raywood that are organized by Miguel Fontenot, another skillful Creole and Zydeco accordion player who has supported Lil Rob’s musical quest.

At the Creole Sundays, Lil Rob and the Zydeco Studs pay back their community by helping to raise funds for charities such as The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and The Drexel Society of Raywood. His band is noted for their charity work, playing family reunions, trailrides and rodeos.

They have played on the same bill and stage with J. Paul, Jr., Chris Ardoin, Koray Broussard.

Leonard James, drummer, can be considered the engine of Lil Rob and the Zydeco Studs.  James keeps the band’s music moving while keeping his shuffle without missing a beat.  James, another veteran player from a musical family, can easily switch to bass and scrubboard when needed.  One of his recent career highlights was playing at the Delta Blues Festival in Greenville, Mississippi. (photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

As with many of his sideman, Lil Rob was born in Louisiana and raised on the Texas side, just as Zydeco was born and raised.  He grew up in Cheek, Texas and now resides in Beaumont.  His musical talents and career have blossomed into something special, but his journey has just begun.

Lil Rob with the help of the Zydeco family of musicians will achieve greater things.

Donald Simien is one of the Zydeco Studs, playing the bass, keeping the bottom under good control.  His massive seven string bass evokes admiration through its size and quality, imposing.

Simien plays it with fluid fingers and skills, making it look easy, and looks are deceptive.  He took up the seven string bass because it gives him more options for his runs and walking bass parts, adding to the sound.

Donald Simien is no rooky when it comes to playing the bass or Zydeco for that matter.   Playing bass for over twenty years, he played guitar before that in rock and roll, blues, and R&B bands.

He played with his brother Alvin Simien who encouraged him and was a sideman with Curtis Pollard for a number of years. 

Donald Simien, veteran bass player, after the show.  Semien added: “French and Creole was part of our life.  We did not think about it, it just was.  Everybody played something and it was all good.” (photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt)

Simien’s hometown is Opelousas, Louisiana, but he has hung his hat in Beaumont for many years, recently retiring from the City of Beaumont. 

Donald Semien brings a long repertoire to the band and his experienced steadfast playing provides an edge to the Zydeco Studs.

Semien added: “French and Creole was part of our life.  We did not think about it, it just was.  Everybody played something and it was all good.”

Donald Simien, veteran bass player, keeps it flowing.  Simien switched to a seven string bass, an extended range bass, in recent years that provides more octaves and a deeper bass. With his skilled hands, Simien plays a greater frequency range than when playing a standard-tuned four-string bass guitar. The formidable seven string bass has a wider neck and custom pick-ups. (photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt) 

After his grandfather, Wallace Brignac passed when Michael was 12 years old, Michael Brignac took up the accordion and Zydeco music with a passion. Although he was been playing over 15 years, it was not until 2005 that Brignac became a serious musician.

Michael Brignac adds vocals, scrubboard and accordion playing skills to the Zydeco Studs, relieving Lil Rob when needed.  He is learning his craft and honing it, listening to recordings and studying the music.  He learns from his friends and noted band members such as Edward Poullard, and carefully analyzes the recordings of Chenier, Chavis and others including current players such as Geno Delafose. 

Michael Brignac keeps the rhythm flowing on the scrubboard.  A talented man, Brignac plays accordian and provides vocals.  Playing since he was fifteen years old, Brignac is still honing his craft, and he is well on his way.   The scrubboard, alternatively known as a washboard or rubboard or a frottior, is an historical instrument of this area.  It is much harder to play than it seems, taking strong arms and hands in addition to coordination. (photo credit: Robert L. Schaadt) 

Brignac is intent when he plays, in tune with his fellow musicians.  Primarily he plays with Lil Rob, but also has been with other bands, even as a Zydeco Playboy.  His ambition is to lead his own band in the future, but he extremely satisfied playing as a Zydeco Stud.

One can find Michael Brignac, Jr. on Youtube playing Zydeco Coteau by Boozoo Chavis.

Leonard James lived in Cheek as a youngster, knew Lil Rob growing up, in the same culture that influenced his fellow Zydeco players.  James used to sneak into the Hamshire-Fannett High School band room and play on the drums.  It was his first practice sessions.  

His mother and cousins all were musicians, listening to the Zydeco and blues records.  So it was natural that his love of being a drummer would lead to a profession.

Leonard James played with Rob Pitre, Sr. band as a Zydeco Playboy and with his cousin Chubby Carrier in Lawtell, Louisiana, the home club of Chubby’s father Roy Carrier.  James’s cousin Joseph Roy Carrier is famous for keeping the traditional Zydeco music alive in his club in Lawtell, for encouraging younger players, and referred to as a Zydeco legend.  This was all part of James’s family and musical heritage, along with his playing experiences.  Carrier was a cousin to the great Chilton Chenier and played with him and Boozoo Chavis.

Before he knew it, Leonard James was the drummer for Billy Poullard and the Zydeco Combo, playing on the road in the 1990s all over Texas from Dallas to McAllen.

One of his favorite experiences and a precious memory is when he hit the stage to play the Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage in Greenville, Mississippi.  

Edward Poullard is a quiet man with a becoming smile, who plays the guitar as a true journeyman, never stealing the spotlight from the accordion player.  One notices the red shirt that is labeled Smithsonian Folklife Festival and learns that Poullard played the festival in 2008, quite an honor. 

Then one learns that the Edward Poullard playing with Lil Rob is the noted accordion maker from Beaumont, the first and perhaps only documented accordion maker of Creole descent, a third generation Creole musician. 

Poullard shared a bit of his history, reminding us of the Creole culture and music, and how important the music is to Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas.  His grandfather was born a slave, but passed on to his family the music and lessons of life.  

Poullard shared this with son and daughter as so many families before them, and they play the music. 

Edward Poullard is actually a Creole fiddle player who makes accordions.  He is so well known through his Grammy nomination, playing at the Smithsonian where his music is on their website under the 2008 Program listed as Three Accordionists (Joel Guzman, Ed Poullard, and David Farias), skilled in a range of traditions including Conjunto and Cajun, jam, and then under the Texas Rice Festival Program, one finds that Edward Poullard was named one of the 2014 Texas Rice Festival Cajun Award Recipients.  

He is named in the other recipient’s biography, Ashton Jude Moreau, as “In 2000, world renowned Edward Poullard joined The Bon Temps Playboys and they recorded their first CD.”

Edward Poullard additionally has recorded with Arhoolie Records, where is listed as a living legend carrying on in the tradition of the late Canray Fontenot and has toured the world as an Ambassador of Cajun and Creole music, even taking the music for the first time to Russia.

Edward Poullard is a class act, playing his Creole fiddle for all to listen to the beautiful, authentic traditional style handed down through the years.  He teaches, he crafts and shares his passion and talents.

A lot more can be written about the accomplishments of Edward Poullard, but what is truly important is this fact: On that Sunday in Raywood, Sept. 21, he played the guitar for his friend, Lil Rob, because Rob needed a guitar player, and because they are family friends, and fellow players.

Edward Poullard answered the call one more time and shared his beloved music.

Lil Rob and the Zydeco Studs are the real deal and in so many ways exemplify the Zydeco tradition that is rooted in the historical influences in the families of Southeast Texas, going back to their Louisiana origins. It all ties in to the days as Joseph Roy Carrier stated, “playing LaLa at night in the living room with relatives and friends that would stop by. The passing on of music tradition is ingrained in the families of Zydeco.

If you want to dance, give them a call.

To book the band, give them a call at 409-926-6028 or 409-951-9845.  You will not regret the experience.

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