John Delafose

John Delafose and his band the Eunice Playboys bridged the gap between zydeco’s roots and its contemporary sound with a mastery matched by few of their peers; despite an affinity for early Creole styles, French lyrics and two-step waltz rhythms, they played with all of the fiery intensity demanded by modern-day audiences, tapping into a wide array of sources — blues, Cajun, even country — to forge a propulsive traditionalist sound all their own. Born April 16, 1939 in Duralde, Louisiana, Delafose as a child crafted fiddles and guitars out of old boards and cigar boxes fitted with window-screen wire; he eventually took up the harmonica, and at the age of 18 learned the button accordion. He soon turned to farming, and as a result did not seriously pursue music until during the early 1970s, at which time he served as an accordionist and harpist with a variety of local zydeco bands. By the middle of the decade his formed his own combo, the Eunice Playboys. Sadly, this performance at Ashkenaz (6/16/93) came just 4 months before Johns death (9/17/94) and also features portions of the set lead by his eventual successor, his son Geno. 

June 16th, 1993
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center
Berkeley, CA

  1. Big Mamou 4:28
  2. Colinda 3:41
  3. Done Got Old 4:24
  4. Eunice Two Step 2 3:17
  5. Going to Maison 4:05
  6. I'm On My Way 4:13
  7. Jeunes Filles De La Campagne 3:10
  8. JOhnnie Billie Goat 5:12
  9. Lucile 4:02
  10. Motordude Zydeco 4:20
  11. My Little Dog 2:48
  12. Paper In My Shoe 3:04
  13. Un Autre Soir Ennuyante 3:56
  14. Why You Make Me Cry_ 3:58