Boozoo Chavis
b. 23 October 1930, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA. ‘Boozoo’ Chavis was one of the first artists to perform zydeco music in the '50s and enjoyed renewed popularity in the '80s and '90s. Chavis had learned to play accordion and harmonica by the age of nine and performed around Lake Charles while in his teens. In 1954 he was signed to Folk-Star Records by owner Eddie Shuler. Chavis recorded a traditional song, Paper In My Shoe (which he and Shuler took writing credit for), backed by the local Classie Ballou's Tempo Kings. The session marked the first time Chavis had played with a band. The record sold well regionally and was picked up for national distribution by Imperial Records of Los Angeles. Chavis continued to record for Folk-Star and Shuler's Goldband label sporadically through the early '60s, then retreated from the music industry until 1984, when he began performing again in Louisiana. He quickly became a local favourite and began recording for the small Maison de Soul and Rounder Records labels.