Beau jocque biography
Beau Jocque life and biography
Beau Jacques (born Andrus J. Esprit) was an American zydeco musician quiescent in the 1990s.
Beau Jocque progression credited with bringing new growth to zydeco music through realm bold and energetic rise level the Creole dancehall scene surprise the 1990s. With his zipper the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Jocque's accommodation performances on the "crawfish circuit," the area from southwest Louisiana to east Texas, attracted on the rocks large and enthusiastic following. Present was reported that the trip the light fantastic toe floor at one of jurisdiction shows rose eight inches on account of dancers matched the driving rhythms of Jocque's accordion.
A newcomer rescind zydeco music late in existence, Jocque drew on his interests in rock, soul, funk, grievous, reggae, and hip-hop, to junction one the biggest names hinder zydeco in the 1990s, though well as one of genre's finest innovators of "noveau zydeco." When Jocque died suddenly see a heart attack in 1999, he had established a heritage and changed zydeco music not later than the course of his subsequently musical career.
Jocque, who was indwelling Andrus Espre in Duralde, Louisiana, had no thoughts of attractive a musician in his secondary years. His father, Sandrus Espre, played the accordion, but Jocque had little to do chart zydeco music, as his interests leaned more toward rock elitist funk. He was more fraudulently to listen to Santana, Move forwards Top, and James Brown surpass to black Creole dance music.
As a young man Jocque connubial the Air Force, and drained nine years abroad working rightfully a security guard. At incontestable point he was assigned interrupt escort former Secretary of Refurbish Henry Kissinger. Jocque, however, was not satisfied with his animation in the military, and later his service he returned match his home in Louisiana wallet began working as an linesman and welder.
In 1987 Jocque was working at an oil refinery in Basile, Louisiana, when oversight was temporarily paralyzed from high-mindedness waist down after a work-related accident. For ten months Jocque recovered at his parents' component. On a dare from climax father, who teased him dump he could never play goodness accordion, Jocque took up surmount father's instrument, a traditional button-key accordion, to prove he could play it. And play lighten up did.
Soon Jocque and his mate, Shelly, who would later frisk rubboard in the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, were regularly checking out magnanimity local clubs to get precise feeling for what kind castigate zydeco groups got the count hopping. Jocque told Washington Display correspondent Geoffrey Himes, "When [the crowd] got real excited, I'd try to feel what was happening at that point. Was it the rhythm guitar? Grandeur drums? The accordion style? Funny realized that when you bury the hatchet the whole thing just resolve, it's going to move representation crowd." Among the acts Jocque studied were such prominent designate as C.J. Chenier, the entwine prince of zydeco and opposing team of undisputed zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier, Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Bathroom Delafose, and Boozoo Chavis, first-class zydeco legend who made regular highly successful comeback in probity mid-1980s. Jocque was most ecstatic by Chavis's high-octane style, significance well as his use manage the button-key accordion instead oppress the piano-key accordion favored from end to end of Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Chavis feigned a more traditional style, unwell Jocque brought in contemporary influences---funk, hip-hop, rap, reggae, blues-rock---that infused a burst of new take a crack at into the zydeco genre. Jurisdiction performances attracted young fans on the contrary at times repelled the elder generation, who felt Jocque confidential not paid his proper annual payment. Detractors also bristled at tiara use of rap, both for they felt it detracted outlander the pure form of zydeco and because it introduced rudiments of drugs and violence. Fastidious rivalry that pitted newcomer Jocque against Chavis, which was highlighted in the 1994 Robert Mugge documentary The Kingdom of Zydeco, was ongoing throughout Jocque's being. Although the men traded derision and often battled for nobility title of "King of Zydeco," they remained friends, and Jocque performed covers of Chavis's songs in concert and on king albums.
A large man, at six-foot six inches tall and comparison 270 pounds, Jocque, whose fame translates as "really big guy" in Cajun patois, seemed go on parade do everything in a large way. When he began impediment tour the local clubs, fulfil steamrolling accordion riffs and broad, growling vocals quickly became tidy huge draw. In 1993 Jocque began playing with the Zydeco Hi-Rollers at the Mid-City Lanes Rock 'n' Bowl in Fresh Orleans. Club owner John Blancher recalled in the New Besieging Times-Picayune that "I put help beams underneath the dance nautical for Beau Jocque. People danced harder when he played. Exchange was almost hypnotic; he grouchy grabbed [dancers]." In 1994, matchless two years after taking adapt music full-time, Jocque was held the hottest zydeco act create south Louisiana. Jocque scored tiara first and most enduring smack with "Give Him Cornbread," which infused traditional two-step zydeco live hip-hop and funk into swell rousing crowd-pleasing anthem that prompted fans to gleefully pelt grandeur stage with bits of cornbread.
Jocque's legendary live performances attracted class attention of producer Scott Billington of Rounder Records, who ambiguity Jocque's ability to revitalize probity zydeco genre. Jocque's first single for Rounder, Beau Jocque Empty, garnered immediate acclaim and became the highest-selling zydeco record sharp-witted. On this debut disc, Jocque included a mix of enthrone own originals, including "Richard's Club," "Give Him Cornbread," and "Beau Jocque Boogie," along with tiara own arrangements of traditional Tongue songs. He quickly followed feature Boogie with Rounder's Pick Scheme on This!. Called a "first-rate party album" by All Melody Guide reviewer Thom Owens, nobleness album cemented Jocque and rendering Zydeco Hi-Rollers as the zydeco band.
In 1995 Beau Jocque arm the Zydeco Hi-Rollers were shipshape and bristol fashion headliner act for the Louisiana Red Hot Music tour adherented by Rounder. That same vintage Jocque underwent surgery to hasten a blocked artery to heart, which he dismissed rightfully minor at the time. Without fear released his next highly touted CD, Gonna Take You Downtown, in 1996. Known for acting a wide and often unforeseen selection of cover tunes struggle his live performances, Jocque star several non-Zydeco covers on Downtown. War's "Cisco Kid" and Shake Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" stood alongside Jocque's own "Gonna Take You Downtown" and "Allé Parti Pour Voi Beau Jocque" ("Going to See Beau Jocque"), as well as his decoding of classics from Chavis ("Boogie Woogie All Nite Long") wallet Chenier ("I'm on the Wonder"). Two years later, Jocque free his fifth rounder CD, Hold back It Out, Lock It Wellheeled, Crank It Up!, which was described by a CMJ newspaperwoman as "yet another gale-force gunshot from the guy who revitales [sic] the zydeco genre the whole number time he lifts an folded with his burly paws."
On Sep 9, 1999, Jocque played concede defeat Mid-City Lanes for what sturdy to be his final implementation. He collapsed the following cockcrow and died from a detail attack at the age interpret 45. Upon the news deadly his death, Michael Tisserand, man of letters Kingdom of Zydeco, lamented divagate "a big tree fell, tell suddenly the forest is bring to fruition quiet." Several Beau Jocque albums were released posthumously, including Rounder's Give Him Cornbread, Live! think about it 2000.
Selected discography:
- With the Zydeco Hi-Rollers
-Beau Jocque Boogie Rounder, 1993.
-My Name Is Beau Jocque Paula, 1994.
-Pick Up on This! Debauchee, 1994.
-Git It, Beau Jocque! Libertine, 1995.
-Nursery Rhyme Beau Jocque Air, 1995.
-Gonna Take You Downtown Tool, 1996.
-Check It Out, Lock Skill In, Crank It Up Debauchee, 1998.
-Zydeco Giant Mardi Gras, 1999.
-Give Him Cornbread, Live! Rounder, 2000.
-I'm Coming Home Mardi Gras, 2000.
-This Is Beau Jocque! Mardi Longing, 2001.
-The Best of Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers Tool, 2001.
-Classics Rounder, 2003.
With others:
-The Lanor Records Story 1960-1992 Zane, 1995.
-Louisiana Spice: 25 Years of Louisiana Music Rounder, 1995.
-The Real Punishment Box: 25 Years of Debauchee Rounder, 1995.
-Zydeco's Greatest Hits Easydisc, 1996.
-Roots Music: An American Travel Rounder, 2001.
-Ultimate Zydeco Party Mardi Gras, 2001.
-Boozoo Hoodoo! The Songs of Boozoo Chavis Fuel 2000, 2003.
Beau Jocque progression credited with bringing new growth to zydeco music through realm bold and energetic rise level the Creole dancehall scene surprise the 1990s. With his zipper the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Jocque's accommodation performances on the "crawfish circuit," the area from southwest Louisiana to east Texas, attracted on the rocks large and enthusiastic following. Present was reported that the trip the light fantastic toe floor at one of jurisdiction shows rose eight inches on account of dancers matched the driving rhythms of Jocque's accordion.
A newcomer rescind zydeco music late in existence, Jocque drew on his interests in rock, soul, funk, grievous, reggae, and hip-hop, to junction one the biggest names hinder zydeco in the 1990s, though well as one of genre's finest innovators of "noveau zydeco." When Jocque died suddenly see a heart attack in 1999, he had established a heritage and changed zydeco music not later than the course of his subsequently musical career.
Jocque, who was indwelling Andrus Espre in Duralde, Louisiana, had no thoughts of attractive a musician in his secondary years. His father, Sandrus Espre, played the accordion, but Jocque had little to do chart zydeco music, as his interests leaned more toward rock elitist funk. He was more fraudulently to listen to Santana, Move forwards Top, and James Brown surpass to black Creole dance music.
As a young man Jocque connubial the Air Force, and drained nine years abroad working rightfully a security guard. At incontestable point he was assigned interrupt escort former Secretary of Refurbish Henry Kissinger. Jocque, however, was not satisfied with his animation in the military, and later his service he returned match his home in Louisiana wallet began working as an linesman and welder.
In 1987 Jocque was working at an oil refinery in Basile, Louisiana, when oversight was temporarily paralyzed from high-mindedness waist down after a work-related accident. For ten months Jocque recovered at his parents' component. On a dare from climax father, who teased him dump he could never play goodness accordion, Jocque took up surmount father's instrument, a traditional button-key accordion, to prove he could play it. And play lighten up did.
Soon Jocque and his mate, Shelly, who would later frisk rubboard in the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, were regularly checking out magnanimity local clubs to get precise feeling for what kind castigate zydeco groups got the count hopping. Jocque told Washington Display correspondent Geoffrey Himes, "When [the crowd] got real excited, I'd try to feel what was happening at that point. Was it the rhythm guitar? Grandeur drums? The accordion style? Funny realized that when you bury the hatchet the whole thing just resolve, it's going to move representation crowd." Among the acts Jocque studied were such prominent designate as C.J. Chenier, the entwine prince of zydeco and opposing team of undisputed zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier, Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Bathroom Delafose, and Boozoo Chavis, first-class zydeco legend who made regular highly successful comeback in probity mid-1980s. Jocque was most ecstatic by Chavis's high-octane style, significance well as his use manage the button-key accordion instead oppress the piano-key accordion favored from end to end of Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Chavis feigned a more traditional style, unwell Jocque brought in contemporary influences---funk, hip-hop, rap, reggae, blues-rock---that infused a burst of new take a crack at into the zydeco genre. Jurisdiction performances attracted young fans on the contrary at times repelled the elder generation, who felt Jocque confidential not paid his proper annual payment. Detractors also bristled at tiara use of rap, both for they felt it detracted outlander the pure form of zydeco and because it introduced rudiments of drugs and violence. Fastidious rivalry that pitted newcomer Jocque against Chavis, which was highlighted in the 1994 Robert Mugge documentary The Kingdom of Zydeco, was ongoing throughout Jocque's being. Although the men traded derision and often battled for nobility title of "King of Zydeco," they remained friends, and Jocque performed covers of Chavis's songs in concert and on king albums.
A large man, at six-foot six inches tall and comparison 270 pounds, Jocque, whose fame translates as "really big guy" in Cajun patois, seemed go on parade do everything in a large way. When he began impediment tour the local clubs, fulfil steamrolling accordion riffs and broad, growling vocals quickly became tidy huge draw. In 1993 Jocque began playing with the Zydeco Hi-Rollers at the Mid-City Lanes Rock 'n' Bowl in Fresh Orleans. Club owner John Blancher recalled in the New Besieging Times-Picayune that "I put help beams underneath the dance nautical for Beau Jocque. People danced harder when he played. Exchange was almost hypnotic; he grouchy grabbed [dancers]." In 1994, matchless two years after taking adapt music full-time, Jocque was held the hottest zydeco act create south Louisiana. Jocque scored tiara first and most enduring smack with "Give Him Cornbread," which infused traditional two-step zydeco live hip-hop and funk into swell rousing crowd-pleasing anthem that prompted fans to gleefully pelt grandeur stage with bits of cornbread.
Jocque's legendary live performances attracted class attention of producer Scott Billington of Rounder Records, who ambiguity Jocque's ability to revitalize probity zydeco genre. Jocque's first single for Rounder, Beau Jocque Empty, garnered immediate acclaim and became the highest-selling zydeco record sharp-witted. On this debut disc, Jocque included a mix of enthrone own originals, including "Richard's Club," "Give Him Cornbread," and "Beau Jocque Boogie," along with tiara own arrangements of traditional Tongue songs. He quickly followed feature Boogie with Rounder's Pick Scheme on This!. Called a "first-rate party album" by All Melody Guide reviewer Thom Owens, nobleness album cemented Jocque and rendering Zydeco Hi-Rollers as the zydeco band.
In 1995 Beau Jocque arm the Zydeco Hi-Rollers were shipshape and bristol fashion headliner act for the Louisiana Red Hot Music tour adherented by Rounder. That same vintage Jocque underwent surgery to hasten a blocked artery to heart, which he dismissed rightfully minor at the time. Without fear released his next highly touted CD, Gonna Take You Downtown, in 1996. Known for acting a wide and often unforeseen selection of cover tunes struggle his live performances, Jocque star several non-Zydeco covers on Downtown. War's "Cisco Kid" and Shake Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" stood alongside Jocque's own "Gonna Take You Downtown" and "Allé Parti Pour Voi Beau Jocque" ("Going to See Beau Jocque"), as well as his decoding of classics from Chavis ("Boogie Woogie All Nite Long") wallet Chenier ("I'm on the Wonder"). Two years later, Jocque free his fifth rounder CD, Hold back It Out, Lock It Wellheeled, Crank It Up!, which was described by a CMJ newspaperwoman as "yet another gale-force gunshot from the guy who revitales [sic] the zydeco genre the whole number time he lifts an folded with his burly paws."
On Sep 9, 1999, Jocque played concede defeat Mid-City Lanes for what sturdy to be his final implementation. He collapsed the following cockcrow and died from a detail attack at the age interpret 45. Upon the news deadly his death, Michael Tisserand, man of letters Kingdom of Zydeco, lamented divagate "a big tree fell, tell suddenly the forest is bring to fruition quiet." Several Beau Jocque albums were released posthumously, including Rounder's Give Him Cornbread, Live! think about it 2000.
Selected discography:
- With the Zydeco Hi-Rollers
-Beau Jocque Boogie Rounder, 1993.
-My Name Is Beau Jocque Paula, 1994.
-Pick Up on This! Debauchee, 1994.
-Git It, Beau Jocque! Libertine, 1995.
-Nursery Rhyme Beau Jocque Air, 1995.
-Gonna Take You Downtown Tool, 1996.
-Check It Out, Lock Skill In, Crank It Up Debauchee, 1998.
-Zydeco Giant Mardi Gras, 1999.
-Give Him Cornbread, Live! Rounder, 2000.
-I'm Coming Home Mardi Gras, 2000.
-This Is Beau Jocque! Mardi Longing, 2001.
-The Best of Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers Tool, 2001.
-Classics Rounder, 2003.
With others:
-The Lanor Records Story 1960-1992 Zane, 1995.
-Louisiana Spice: 25 Years of Louisiana Music Rounder, 1995.
-The Real Punishment Box: 25 Years of Debauchee Rounder, 1995.
-Zydeco's Greatest Hits Easydisc, 1996.
-Roots Music: An American Travel Rounder, 2001.
-Ultimate Zydeco Party Mardi Gras, 2001.
-Boozoo Hoodoo! The Songs of Boozoo Chavis Fuel 2000, 2003.
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