Boozoo Chavis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boozoo Chavis
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Chavis at the 2000 Original Southwest Zydeco Festival
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wilson Anthony Chavis |
| Born | October 23, 1930 Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 5, 2001 (aged 70) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Zydeco |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, accordionist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Cajun accordion |
| Years active | 1954–2001 |
| Labels | Maison de Soul Rounder Sonet |
Wilson Anthony "Boozoo" Chavis (pronounced CHAY-viss) (October 23, 1930 – May 5, 2001) was a famous American musician. He played the accordion, sang, and wrote songs. He was a leader in zydeco music. Zydeco is a mix of Cajun and blues music. It started in southwest Louisiana.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Boozoo Chavis was born in Church Point, Louisiana. His parents, Arthur and Marceline Chavis, were tenant farmers. They lived in a Creole area called Pied des Chiens, which means "Dog Hill." Boozoo got his nickname as a child, but he never shared how he got it.
When he was about nine, Boozoo traded a small horse for his first accordion. He taught himself to play it. Another story says he bought his first accordion with money from a horse race when he was a teenager. Music was important in his family. His father, uncles, and cousins all played the accordion. His mother was very hardworking. She took on cleaning jobs and sold barbeque to earn extra money. She used this money to buy land for the family.
Later, Boozoo bought a different type of accordion, a button accordion. He started playing regularly at a dance club his mother opened. He often played with famous musicians like Clifton Chenier. Boozoo also played music at house parties on weekends. Besides music, he worked as a farmer, jockey, and horse trainer.
Music Career and "Paper in My Shoe"
Boozoo Chavis made his first recording in 1954. The song was called "Paper in My Shoe." It was about being too poor to buy new shoes. So, he put paper in his shoes to keep his feet warm. This song was sung in both French and English.
"Paper in My Shoe" was the first zydeco song released for sale. It became a big hit and is now a classic zydeco song. Boozoo recorded it with a rhythm and blues band. At the end of the song, it fades out. This was one of the first times this recording trick was used.
Boozoo believed his record sold much more than the companies said. He felt he didn't get fair payment for his music. Because of this, he didn't trust the music business for a long time. For thirty years, he only released a few more songs.
Return to Music and "The Creole Cowboy"
During the 1960s and 1970s, Boozoo rarely performed. He focused on farming and raising racehorses. Zydeco music was mostly popular only in Louisiana back then. But by the early 1980s, zydeco started to become famous outside of Louisiana. Musicians like Clifton Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco helped it grow.
In the early 1980s, Boozoo was not earning much from music. His family, especially his wife Leona, encouraged him to play again. He decided to return to music in 1984. This happened after he heard an ad for a dance featuring "Boozoo Chavis," but it was someone else pretending to be him! He realized his name was still well-known.
He signed with the Maison de Soul record label. He released a popular song called "Dog Hill." He also put out four albums. One album, Louisiana Zydeco Music (1986), had a new version of "Paper In My Shoe." This song became a hit again in Louisiana. Boozoo also recorded for other labels like Rounder Records and Sonet Records.
Boozoo earned the nickname "The Creole Cowboy." This was because he raised horses and often wore a white cowboy hat when he performed. Some of his songs were about country life, like "Zydeco Hee Haw." He also wore an apron on stage to protect his accordion from sweat.
Later Career and Legacy
Boozoo Chavis wrote many zydeco songs. Some of his songs became very popular and are now zydeco classics. He would tell his band, "If it's wrong, do it wrong, with me. If I'm wrong, you wrong, too!" This showed his unique and fun style.
For a long time, Boozoo was afraid of flying. But in 1990, after his mother passed away, he decided to overcome his fear. He took his first flight to New York City and enjoyed it.
In the 1990s, Boozoo performed widely with his band, the Magic Sounds. In 1993, he was crowned "The King of Zydeco" in New Orleans. His style, using a button accordion, was more traditional than other zydeco artists. People loved his powerful accordion playing and singing. He performed at many big music festivals, including the Newport Folk Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He was also featured in a 1994 movie called The Kingdom of Zydeco.
Death
Boozoo Chavis passed away on May 5, 2001. He had a heart attack after a performance in Austin, Texas. He was buried in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Awards and Honors
In 1998, Boozoo Chavis was added to the Zydeco Hall of Fame. In 2001, he received the National Heritage Fellowship. This is a very high honor for folk and traditional artists in the United States.
Family Life
Boozoo was married to Leona Predium. She often traveled with him and sold his records and T-shirts at shows. Leona passed away in 2009.
Boozoo and Leona had six children. Two of their sons, Charles and Rellis, played in his band, the Magic Sounds. A grandson also sometimes performed with them.
In 1995, Boozoo had an accident with a barbeque pit and lost the tips of two fingers on his left hand. But he still played a show the very next night with his hand bandaged!
Continuing the Music
Boozoo Chavis finished recording his last album just weeks before he died. It was released in 2001 and was called Down Home On Dog Hill. Critics said it was a great album and a fitting legacy for him.
After Boozoo's death, his son Charles took over the Magic Sounds band. Sadly, Charles also passed away from a heart attack just eight months later. Another son, Poncho Chavis, then kept the band going. They performed a tribute to Boozoo at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
In 2005, five of Boozoo Chavis's grandsons started their own band called The Dog Hill Stompers. They wanted to keep their grandfather's music alive. They released their first album in 2007 and still perform today.
Boozoo also started the "Labor Day Dog Hill Festival" in 1989. It was a party for his fans and a way to show off other zydeco musicians. His wife Leona cooked delicious Creole food for everyone. After Boozoo died, the festival was renamed "Boozoo's Labor Day Festival." His family continues to run it to honor him. It has become a very popular event.
Other musicians have honored Boozoo Chavis. The rock band NRBQ wrote a song called "Boozoo, That's Who." Younger zydeco musician Jo Jo Reed also wrote a song called "Got It From Boo." In 2003, a tribute album called Boozoo Hoodoo!: The Songs of Boozoo Chavis was released, featuring many artists playing his songs.
Images for kids
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Boozoo Chavis at the 2000 Original Southwest Zydeco Festival
See also
In Spanish: Boozoo Chavis para niños
