Home » Jazz Musicians » Buckwheat Zydeco

Buckwheat Zydeco

Buckwheat Zydeco - accordion, Hammond organ

Stanley Dural was born in 1947 in Lafayette, La., a close-knit community where many black people express their Creole heritage by speaking French, and by playing and dancing to zydeco. This hybrid genre blends Afro-Caribbean rhythms with blues, soul, rock, country and the French-rooted Cajun music of the Creoles' white neighbors. As the son of a zydeco accordionist, Buckwheat grew up steeped in this culture, and also absorbed Lafayette's prodigious output of blues and Gulf Coast "swamp pop." He began his professional career as an R&B sideman, playing keyboards for the likes of Joe Tex, Barbara Lynn and Gatemouth Brown. In 1971, Dural began leading his own R&B band, Buckwheat and the Hitch-hikers, playing the contemporary sounds of such popular bands as Parliament Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire. The group scored a regional hit with "It's Hard to Get."

By the mid-'70s, South Louisiana began to experience a grassroots cultural renaissance as zydeco and Cajun music gained appreciation as treasured cultural resources. As the demand for zydeco grew, Dural was offered a gig playing organ and piano with the King of Zydeco, the late, great Clifton Chenier. Buck (as he is also known) worked hard and learned all he could. After three years of touring, recording and accordion apprenticeship, he left in 1979 to lead his own group, Buckwheat Zydeco and the Ils Sont Partis Band. Like Chenier, Buckwheat has continued to blend traditional Creole zydeco with the latest black-contemporary styles, drawing on all of his rich and varied musical experience.

Recording prolifically for various independent labels, Dural attracted the attention of music journalist Ted Fox, who became his manager and co-producer. In 1987, Fox arranged Buckwheat's signing with Island Records. During the years of critical acclaim that have ensued, Buckwheat Zydeco has toured constantly, headlining major venues as well as sharing stages with the likes of U2 and appearing as a featured guest with The Boston Pops " which performed its own orchestrated versions of several Buckwheat Zydeco numbers.

The band performed at both of President Clinton's inaugurals, and Buck was featured on the Closing Ceremonies of the Atlanta Summer Olympics before a worldwide television audience of three billion, sharing the bill with Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Little Richard and Gloria Estefan. Buckwheat Zydeco has also made numerous appearances on national television shows such as Late Night with David Letterman, The Today Show and the CBS Morning News. Dural was also named a Louisiana Music Commissioner by the governor.

Read more

Tags

309
Album Review

Buckwheat Zydeco: Lay Your Burden Down

Read "Lay Your Burden Down" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


2009 marks Stanley “Buckwheat Zydeco" Dural's thirtieth anniversary in the business and his debut for Chicago's homegrown blues-roots label Alligator Records. Buckwheat expresses his own voice on this debut mostly through songs written by many different composers, from Memphis Minnie through Captain Beefheart to Bruce Springsteen and others. He also reunites with producer Steve Berlin, who produced Dural's acclaimed Five Card Stud (Island, 1994) and plays in and leads Burden's horn section.

Sonny Landreth laces the opening “When ...

229
Album Review

Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live

Read "Down Home Live" reviewed by Alan Jones


In the twelve or so years that have lapsed since I listened to a Buckwheat Zydeco record, it is comforting to know that the group is still going strong, and yet no wonder. Convincing evidence to their momentum can be heard in their latest release on Tomorrow Recordings, Down Home Live. Down Home Live, a Thanksgiving performance recorded at El Sid O’s Zydeco & Blues Club in Lafayette, Louisiana, is Buckwheat Zydeco’s first (no kidding) live recording, a concoction of ...

211
Album Review

Buckwheat Zydeco: The Buckwheat Zydeco Story: A 20-Year Party

Read "The Buckwheat Zydeco Story: A 20-Year Party" reviewed by Ed Kopp


This retrospective offers catchy, danceable tunes from one of Louisiana’s most compelling performers. Stanley Dural Jr. (alias Buckwheat Zydeco) ranks as the best-selling zydeco artist of all time. Hard to believe that he once wanted no part of zydeco.Son of an accomplished Creole accordian player, Dural first made his mark in the ‘70s as a piano and organ player in various blues and R&B bands in his hometown of LaFaytette. Nicknamed Buckwheat because of his unruly hair, Dural ...

Read more articles

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform at Sellersville (PA) Theater

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform at Sellersville (PA) Theater

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

Grammy Award-winning American musical legend Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr. - along with his band, Buckwheat Zydeco - is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. Buckwheat Zydeco will perform at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville on Friday, August 3, 2012. Their latest release (and Alligator Records debut) is the Grammy Award-winning CD, Lay Your Burden Down. This is Buckwheat Zydeco's first Grammy win (the band had five previous Grammy nominations). Louisiana vocalist, accordion and organ master Dural recorded Lay Your ...

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Camden, NJ

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Camden, NJ

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

"Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural leads one of the best bands in America. A down-home and high-powered celebration, meaty and muscular with a fine-tuned sense of dynamics...propulsive rhythms, incendiary performances." — The New York Times Grammy Award-winning American musical legend Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr. - along with his band, Buckwheat Zydeco - is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. Buckwheat Zydeco will perform as part of the Sunset Jazz Music Series at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden on Tuesday, July 17, ...

52

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in New Hope March 1

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in New Hope March 1

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

Grammy Award-winning American musical legend Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr.—along with his band, Buckwheat Zydeco—is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. Buckwheat Zydeco will perform at The New Hope Winery in New Hope on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Their latest release (and Alligator Records debut) is the Grammy Award-winning CD, Lay Your Burden Down. This is Buckwheat Zydeco's first Grammy win (the band had five previous Grammy nominations). Louisiana vocalist, accordion and organ master Dural recorded Lay Your Burden Down ...

59

Performance / Tour

Grammy Award Winning Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Wilmington

Grammy Award Winning Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Wilmington

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

Grammy Award-winning American musical legend Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr.—along with his band, Buckwheat Zydeco—is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. Buckwheat Zydeco will perform at World Cafe Live at The Queen in Wilmington on Monday, February 27, 2012. Their latest release (and Alligator Records debut) is the Grammy Award-winning CD, Lay Your Burden Down. This is Buckwheat Zydeco's first Grammy win (the band had five previous Grammy nominations). Louisiana vocalist, accordion and organ master Dural recorded Lay Your Burden ...

135

Performance / Tour

Grammy Award-Winning Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Arden

Grammy Award-Winning Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Arden

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

"Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural leads one of the best bands in America. A down-home and high-powered celebration, meaty and muscular with a fine-tuned sense of dynamics...propulsive rhythms, incendiary performances."—The New York Times

Grammy Award-winning American musical legend Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr.—along with his band, Buckwheat Zydeco—is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. Buckwheat Zydeco will perform at Gild Hall in Arden on Sunday, September 18, 2011. Their latest release (and Alligator Records debut) is the Grammy Award-winning CD, Lay Your ...

115

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Sellersville (PA) & Bordentown (NJ)

Buckwheat Zydeco to Perform in Sellersville (PA) & Bordentown (NJ)

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

"Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural leads one of the best bands in America. A down-home and high-powered celebration, meaty and muscular with a fine-tuned sense of dynamics...propulsive rhythms, incendiary performances."—The New York Times Grammy Award-winning American musical legend Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr.—along with his band, Buckwheat Zydeco—is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. Buckwheat Zydeco is on tour to promote their Grammy Award-winning release (and Alligator Records debut), Lay Your Burden Down, and will perform at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville ...

110

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco: Tour/Album

Buckwheat Zydeco: Tour/Album

Source: JamBase

BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH NEW NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES NEW ALBUM, LAY YOUR BURDEN DOWN, RECEIVES STELLAR REVIEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Buckwheat Zydeco Buckwheat Zydeco have been celebrating their 30th anniversary and the release of Lay Your Burden Down (released May 5), with a massive North American tour.

Buckwheat Zydeco recorded Lay Your Burden Down at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana in January and February with Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) producing (as well as leading the ...

143

Recording

Buckwheat Zydeco to Appear in Two Katrina Benefit Albums in November

Buckwheat Zydeco to Appear in Two Katrina Benefit Albums in November

Source: All About Jazz

NEW YORK, N.Y. On November 22, 2005 Nonesuch Records is releasing Our New Orleans, a benefit album of newly recorded songs featuring artists from the Louisiana music community - across a wide variety of styles - to document the depth, richness, and profound musicality of that unique city. With Ry Cooder producing, Buckwheat Zydeco's leader, Stanley “Buckwheat" Dural Jr., and a stellar band including Cooder on guitar, Jim Keltner on drums, Jim Dickinson on piano and Mike Elizondo on bass, ...

172

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco Celebrates New CD in Philly, June 6

Buckwheat Zydeco Celebrates New CD in Philly, June 6

Source: All About Jazz

LAFAYETTE, LA – The Bayou’s barnstorming bandleader, Buckwheat Zydeco, is back with his first studio disc in eight years, due in stores June 7.

He also celebrates the release of his new CD Jackpot! with a showcase in Philadelphia at WORLD CAFÉ LIVE on Monday, June 6.

The album, titled Jackpot!, on Tomorrow Recordings (distributed through ADA), combines soulful original tunes, inspired playing and singing, and the trademark exuberance that’s made him the world’s best-loved zydeco artist, and has earned ...

92

Performance / Tour

Buckwheat Zydeco in Philly on June 6 - New CD Out on June 7 Features Hammond B3 Organ

Buckwheat Zydeco in Philly on June 6 - New CD Out on June 7 Features Hammond B3 Organ

Source: All About Jazz

LAFAYETTE, LA – The Bayou’s barnstorming bandleader, Buckwheat Zydeco, is back with his first studio disc in eight years, due in stores June 7.

The album, titled Jackpot!, on Tomorrow Recordings (distributed through ADA), combines soulful original tunes, inspired playing and singing, and the trademark exuberance that’s made him the world’s best-loved zydeco artist, and has earned Buckwheat Zydeco the sobriquet “the world’s greatest party band." There’s plenty of Buckwheat’s signature accordion, and for the first time ever Buck specifically ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Lay Your Burden Down

Alligator Records
2009

buy

Down Home Live

Tomorrow Recordings
2001

buy

The Buckwheat Zydeco...

Tomorrow Recordings
1999

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.