Buckwheat Zydeco

Buckwheat Zydeco redefined and popularized the Cajun Zydeco movement in America and around the World. In doing so, he brought positive attention to the accordion. The instrument’s reputation had suffered greatly beginning in the late 1960s; however, pockets of creative and innovative musicians fought to change that. One such performer was Clifton Chenier. This pioneering Zydeco king was influential for a long list of next generation Zydeco masters. As a child, Buckwheat played keyboard and piano and only switched to accordion after leaving Clifton’s band and forming his own in 1979.