The MOJO Story

In March of 2001 some of the soon to be members of Mojo Zydeco took a vacation in New Orleans. At that time none of us really knew much about Zydeco, but thought we'd check into it while we were down in Louisiana. We had the great fortune of staying with a couple who were very in tune with the social scene in New Orleans, including Zydeco.

Upon picking us up at the airport and me mentioning that we had an interest in finding out about Zydeco, our friend said: "Oh, well in that case I hope y'all not too tired from the flight, 'cause we're gonna take y'all down to the Rockin' Bowl. "The what?" I said. Our friend explained: "it's one of THE Zydeco clubs in New Orleans." So off we went.

Well, we arrived, and I can tell you that it was one of the more profound experiences of my life! The Rockin' Bowl is a bowling alley, a bar and two dance halls, all under one roof. On this particular night Rosie Ledet was playing downstairs and Rockin' Dopsie was upstairs. The stairs at the Rockin Bowl are long and steep, and I was running back and forth, up and down those stairs all night long, trying not to miss anything! It was on the drive back to where we were staying that I knew that I'd be putting a Zydeco band together. I was hooked.

Two months after our return from Louisiana, Mojo Zydeco was born. Using the twenty odd Zydeco CDs we'd bought while down south, I picked twelve tunes by my newly found heroes- Rosie, Dopsie, Beau Jocque, and others. In our basement we first laid the Zydeco groove down. With my wife Jane on the rubboard, Martin Eade on drums, Dave Clairmont on Bass, Jack Velker on accordion and myself on guitar and locals, we learned those tunes until we could play them backwards. Our first gig was in August of 2001, just three months after we first started playing Zydeco. A local outdoor festival provided the test ground for Mojo Zydeco. We were booked onto the main stage and at 6:30 PM we let them have it! After 45 minutes we left them cheering and chanting "Zydeco".

A lot has happened to us since that first gig. We cut a demo CD, produced a promotional package and became listed with the better booking agencies in Vancouver. We have expanded our song list to include over 50 Zydeco songs, including ones that we've written ourselves. We've played many local venues, both private and public and seem to pick up new friends everywhere we go. In March of 2002 the band went to New Orleans where we were booked into some of the local Zydeco venues, including the legendary Rockin' Bowl. Our trip was a thrill for us and we were privileged to meet and play with some of the Zydeco greats including Rockin' Dopsie, Rosie Ledet, Chris Ardion, Keith Frank, Paul Senegal, Sunpie and others. All the players were gracious and encouraging, going out of their way to support this crazy little Zydeco band all the way from Western Canada. Our trip to Lafayette ended with me ordering a custom diatonic accordion from Martin Accordions- a Zydeco hot rod with special tuning and electronic pick-up.

Some Zydeco History

Zydeco Is Not Cajun Music, Despite what you may have heard in the media recently.

OK, repeat after me - black. Now, say this word - Creole. Let's put the word the words together - black Creole. Good. That didn't hurt, did it?

If we can say the words "black Creole" and the world doesn't explode, why are my brethren in the media afraid to do the same?  I bring this up because over the last week or so, I've come across media accounts, local and national, on Zydeco. Nearly all describe Zydeco as "Cajun music."

To do so is to disrespect the black Creole people of southwest Louisiana who invented it, as well as Cajuns, who have worked hard to preserve French music. Anyone who has waltzed to Cajun favorite Jackie Caillier at La Poussiere's in Breaux Bridge, then bounced to Keith Frank's Zydeco beat at Richard's Club in Lawtell knows there is a HUGE difference.

Simply put, Cajun music is the waltzes and two-steps played by the white descendants of the Acadians,
who were exiled from Nova Scotia in the 1700s. Zydeco is the R&B-based accordion grooves of black Creoles. Creole has 100 different definitions. But when it comes to Zydeco, it refers to the descendants of slaves, free people of color and mixed-race people of this region. Contrary to popular belief, Creoles also have a 300-year history in Louisiana. We just didn't get off the boat.

Culturally, Cajuns and Creoles have borrowed and influenced one another over the years. It's that colorful mix of music, food, language and culture that makes life here so delicious. Our cultural gumbo is what keeps the media coming down here to cover us. You think they would bother to get it right.
Cajun music is Cajun music and Zydeco is Zydeco.