Boozoo Chavis, 1930-2001

Zydeco legend Wilson "Boozoo" Chavis passed away due to complications from a heart attack and stroke on May 5 at Austin's Brackenridge Hospital. Chavis was 71 years old. He had played a show in Austin the night before.

Chavis recorded zydeco's first hit single, "Paper in My Shoe," in 1954, predating Clifton Chenier's oft-covered "Ay-Tete-Fee" by a year. Stylistically, Chavis was a chugging master of the button accordion, an idiosyncratic player who often abandoned meter to follow his inspiration. Like many musicians of his generation, Chavis distrusted the music business, and left it for 20-odd years. During that time he trained racehorses for a living. He returned in the early 80s, riding the wave of renewed roots music interest. He recorded several standout CDs, including '91's eponymous Elektra Nonesuch release, and '99's Who Stole My Monkey? on Rounder.

Chavis dove into his music with abandon and joy that was obvious even when he sang in Creole French; not all zydeco music is so instantly likeable and accessible. His studio recordings captured his vitality, as he was sometimes caught on tape chastising his sidemen, in jest, for struggling to follow him.

"I'm goin' to Dog Hill," he sang, "where the pretty women at." So long, Boozoo, they're waiting for you there.

Brian Briscoe
Contributing writer