RIP Buckwheat Zydeco, bandleader who helped introduce Louisiana zydeco to the world

[Miles Archer]

http://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/article_731e5378-821a-11e6-85ac-3f8437951c61.html



Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr., the accordionist, organist, singer and songwriter who, as Buckwheat Zydeco, championed traditional southwest Louisiana Creole dance music on the world stage, died early Saturday morning of lung cancer at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette. He was 68.

His longtime manager, Ted Fox, confirmed his death.

Dural's zydeco was firmly rooted in the dancehalls of his native Lafayette, but not confined to them. His ambition and reach were much broader.

His performance during the 1996 Summer Olympics closing ceremony was broadcast to a television audience reportedly in the billions. He was featured at both of President Bill Clinton’s inauguration celebrations. In February 2014, Jimmy Fallon selected him to open the final episode of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”; the host gleefully strummed a guitar alongside Dural’s glittering accordion.

[femmocrat]

1. R.I.P.

[Hoyt]

2. As someone said, "if you had given James Brown an accordion, this is what he might sound like"

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[niyad]

3. requiescat in pace

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Darts.....I liked him. n/t

[Coventina]

5. Aw bummer! This day just keeps getting worse.

[Yonnie3]

6. I am saddened to hear this.

He has certainly left a legacy.