Song of the Day: Buckwheat Zydeco “Ma Tit’ Fille”

Stanley Joseph Dural, Jr. aka Buckwheat Zydeco left us last September (2016). I had the pleasure of seeing him, I mean dancing to his music, at Bill Clinton‘s first inauguration in 1992, and Buckwheat did not disappoint.

Dural grew up with 12 brothers and sisters in Lafayette, LA. He started out has an organ player and had his own funk band in the early 70’s before joining zydeco legend Clifton Chenier in 1976. He switched to accordion and finally staked out on his own in 1979. His particular blend of accordion and propulsive R&B served him well, gaining Buckwheat the distinction of being the first zydeco act to be signed by a major label when he was picked up by Island Records in the mid-80s. Buckwheat toured and recorded relentlessly right up until shortly before his death.

The song featured here means “My Little Girl” in Creole French was released in 1987 on the LP A Night Like This and was the band’s showstopper in concert (hence the live version here). The bassline just doesn’t quit on this one. Enjoy!