Murray, check out Clifton Chenier the king of zydeco. He invented the now popular form but unfortunately never was able to sustain a living playing it as some who have come after have. Clifton and his band played at Tipitina's in New Orleans while I was there last and the band I was working with at the time, Washboard Jackson's Hot Damn Jug Band, opened for him at that show. I remember talking to him about why he did not play more zydeco himself and he explained he couldn't get enough work playing it so he turned to playing rock and roll. It made me feel sad that this innovative pioneering musical visionary had to support himself in this way. I remember dancing that evening like I never have before or after and everytime between songs when Clifton would ask what the crowd wanted to hear I would yell in a loud voice ZYDECO just so he would play another. Another small but interesting point about his band was that Clifton played with his brother, a washboard player, who's washboard form has now become the standard for all zydeco style bands. I'm talking about the one piece stainless washboards that hook over your shoulders. Check out any zydeco band and you'll find a washboard player playing one of them. How could one small combo from the deep south manage to be so insightful and yet never seem to truly profit from their genius? Alas, that is the bewildering side of the music business.

Bewildered and befuddled, Reggie