Buckwheat Zydeco

Buckwheat Zydeco
Name	Buckwheat Zydeco
Birth name	Stanley Dural Jr.
Birth date	1947-11-14
Birth place	Lafayette, Louisiana
Death date	2016-09-24
Death place	Lafayette, Louisiana
Genres	Zydeco, R&B, soul
Occupations	Musician, accordionist, bandleader
Years active	1970s–2016
Labels	Maison de Soul, Alligator, Island, Rounder
Associated acts	Buckwheat Zydeco and Ils Sont Partis, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon

Buckwheat Zydeco

Stanley Dural Jr., known professionally as Buckwheat Zydeco, was an American accordionist and bandleader from Lafayette, Louisiana, who popularized zydeco music internationally. He blended traditions from Lafayette with influences from New Orleans, touring with major figures and recording for prominent labels. His career connected regional Creole music to audiences reached by artists like Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, David Bowie, BB King, and institutions such as the Lincoln Center and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Early life and musical beginnings

Dural was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, a cultural crossroads near New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Acadiana region, and grew up amid Creole and Cajun traditions linked to families from St. Landry Parish, Iberia Parish, and St. Martin Parish. His early exposure included radio stations like WWL (AM), recordings from labels such as Specialty Records and Savoy Records, and live music at venues like the Blue Moon Saloon and parish festivals including the Festival International de Louisiane. He began on keyboards influenced by artists on Motown Records, Atlantic Records, and Stax Records, drawing inspiration from performers such as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Little Richard, and zydeco pioneers Clifton Chenier and Cousin Joe.

Dural formed initial groups performing rhythm and blues at clubs along Highway 90 and the Bayou Teche circuit, sharing bills with touring acts associated with promoters from New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, and Austin, Texas. Early collaborations and mentorships connected him to musicians rooted in the traditions of Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, and the Mardi Gras Indians.

Career with Buckwheat Zydeco

As leader of Buckwheat Zydeco and Ils Sont Partis, Dural signed with labels including Rounder Records, Alligator Records, Island Records, and the Louisiana-based Maison de Soul. The band toured internationally, appearing at festivals such as the Newport Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Radio City Music Hall, and worked with producers connected to Arif Mardin, Tom Dowd, and Chris Blackwell.

The group's touring roster placed them on billings with international stars: shows with Eric Clapton and BB King led to collaborations; backstage interactions included artists from The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, and John Fogerty. The band also appeared on broadcasts for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, and specials for PBS.

Musical style and influences

Buckwheat Zydeco fused Louisiana zydeco with elements of rhythm and blues, soul, rock, funk, and pop, reflecting a lineage connected to Clifton Chenier, Amede Ardoin, Dewey Balfa, and the Creole traditions of Jean Lafitte country. Instrumentation centered on the accordion and rubboard (frottoir), with arrangements incorporating electric guitar styles linked to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, and B.B. King; horn lines echoing arrangements from Tower of Power and The Memphis Horns; and grooves informed by James Brown and Sly Stone. Rhythmic structures referenced second-line parades associated with Mardi Gras and the syncopation of New Orleans R&B.

Dural’s approach bridged acoustic zydeco dance forms to amplified ensemble formats favored by clubs and arenas, aligning with contemporaries such as Terrance Simien, C.J. Chenier, and crossover artists like Ry Cooder and Paul Simon.

Notable recordings and performances

Key albums include releases on Island Records and Alligator Records that introduced zydeco to broader markets. Studio and live recordings placed the band on compilation projects alongside artists from Rhino Records, Rounder Records, and soundtrack placements connected to film projects produced by Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal Pictures. Major performances included headline slots at the Newport Folk Festival, appearances with orchestras at the Hollywood Bowl and collaborations at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing.

Tours brought the group to Europe for seasons at Womad Festival and national tours supporting artists like Eric Clapton and Paul Simon, and engagements at venues connected to promoters such as Live Nation and AEG Presents. Television highlights included performances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and features on NPR and BBC Radio 2.

Collaborations and side projects

Dural worked with notable musicians and producers including Eric Clapton, who invited the band to join tours, and joined studio sessions with artists associated with Paul Simon, Ry Cooder, and Taj Mahal. Side projects involved guest appearances on albums by performers tied to Island Records, Atlantic Records, and Stax Records, and participation in benefit concerts alongside musicians from The Band, Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, U2, R.E.M., and Tom Petty.

He collaborated with Louisiana peers such as Terrance Simien, C.J. Chenier, BeauSoleil, and orchestral projects with conductors from the New Orleans Philharmonic and ensembles appearing at institutions like Smithsonian Folklife Festival and World Music Institute events.

Awards and legacy

Dural received recognition from institutions including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Grammy Awards (nominations and support for zydeco), and regional honors from the State of Louisiana and the City of Lafayette. His legacy influenced musicians across genres, cited by artists from Blues Traveler, The Neville Brothers, Galactic (band), The Meters, Widespread Panic, Dr. John, and Mavis Staples. Academic and cultural organizations such as Tulane University, Louisiana State University, Zydeco Music Association, and the Center for Louisiana Studies document his impact on Creole music and the global dissemination of zydeco. Festivals, museums, and cultural centers in Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, Austin, Texas, and Paris continue to program zydeco in ways traceable to his popularization efforts.

Category:American accordionists Category:Zydeco musicians Category:Musicians from Louisiana