Bman's Blues Report

Co-authored by Ted Fox I'm 66 years old, and I've been making music my whole life. I always knew that would be the way I'd make my living. I'm still doing that, but things have sure changed! I've seen it all and been involved in it all from making local records to now creating a YouTube series, Buckwheat's World , to get my music out there. When I was just nine years old they used to sneak me in the back door of clubs in Lafayette, Louisiana so I could get up on stage and play the Hammond B3 with whoever was headlining. By the time I was a young teenager I was in Sammy and the Untouchables, and we backed up many of my heroes like Ray Charles and Fats Domino. In my twenties I put together a big 15-piece funk outfit with a five girl chorus called Buckwheat and Hitchhikers and we played all over the South. In the mid '70s I joined the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, playing the B3 -- and he showed me what zydeco music was all about. After that ...

I just received History's Swamp People , and new release from Rounder Records. This 13 track compilation showcases current and past masters of regional music. Opening with Steel Bill 's Swamp People , this is a Cajun house party. Dominated by a contemporary blend of funk, fiddle and blues rock, this track also features a nice clean guitar solo from Bill. Next up is a 1969 hit track, Amos Moses , by Jerry Reed . This track was always a crowd favorite and has just a taste of country picking on an otherwise rock track. Buckwheat Zydeco comes on pure cajun with Zydeco La Louisianne and an accordion romp. Everybody loves Tony Joe Whites Polk Salad Annie , up next and another top track from 1969. Amanda Shaw plays French Jig , a cajun fiddle track accompanied primarily by drums. Nice track. The Neville Brothers come on with the high polish on Fire On The Bayou , a funky track with sophisticated instrumentals and vocals. This is a track with real movement and voodoo overtones. V...

    HISTORY ® ’ S SWAMP PEOPLE ® CELEBRATES THE MUSIC AND CULTURE OF THE DEEP DELTA   Collection from the heart of alligator country features the Neville Brothers, Hank Williams, Jerry Reed, Tony Joe White,  Buckwheat Zydeco, Zachary Richard,    Bobby Charles and introducing Steel Bill   Thirteen-song set, due out May 21 on Rounder Records through Concord Music Group, in partnership with HISTORY ® , captures the spirit of the top-rated series of the same name   NEW ORLEANS, La. — The storied backcountry of southern Louisiana is a place of rich history and fascinating cultural lineage. Its inhabitants — the Cajuns and their “Swamp People” brethren — are part of a unique tradition that dates back some three centuries to the immigration of Acadian refugees. In the 21st century, the region boasts not only a flavorful cuisine, distinctive music and a vastly vibrant culture, but also a d...