Grandsons carry on zydeco tradition
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, June 27, 2008
The Dog Hill Stompers will perform as part of the Mardi Gras Festivale Thursday.
The grandsons of legendary zydeco player Boozoo Chavis have always had a passion to play music just as he did.
"They're pretty amazing," said proud father, Rellis Chavis Sr., who is a well-known zydeco musician in his own right. "They surprise even me."
The Dog Hill Stompers, who will perform as part of the Mardi Gras Festivale, consists of three sons of Rellis Chavis Sr. who was the drummer for his father, Boozoo, and two sons of Licia Chavis who is one of Boozoo's daughters.
Rellis Chavis Jr., Cornell Chavis, and Quincy Trail are the three accordion players -- just as Grandpa Boozoo was. Mason Trail is on the bass guitar and the scrub board player is Justin Chavis. They are playing on all three of Boozoo's accordions and also their uncle Charles Chavis' scrub board.
The musicians have played in such places as the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the famous Rock-N-Bowl in New Orleans, also in Portland, Ore., the Lake Charles Contraband Festival, and the Cajun Wharf for Mardi Gras. They have just released a CD, called the Dog Hill Stompers. Their grandmother Leona Chavis has told them: "Your pawpaw Boozoo would be proud."
"The boys would watch me play with my father when they were younger and always wanted to get up on the bandstand and imitate me and my dad," Chavis recalled in a phone call from his home in Louisiana. "They were always inspired by my dad and the way he played his accordion."
The band was Boozoo Chavis and the Magic Sounds and consisted of Boozoo, his two sons, a bass player, a guitar player and sometimes a rhythm guitar player.
"I got interested in the music the same way my sons did -- watchin' Dad," Chavis said. "I came on board when I was 17 or 18."
Chavis said he had other career options in his life besides music.
"My dad also trained race horses and I continue to do that," he said. "But zydeco -- I was brought into it. Like any other culture, it was part of me."
Chavis also expressed a deep admiration for his father, who has been called one of the pioneers of zydeco music.
"The way he played had such energy," he said. "He was always trying to give the people what they wanted and I saw how they appreciated that.
"I would be behind him on the drums and I could see the feedback he would get the harder he played," Chavis added. "A lot of musicians understand the phrase, 'Play it from the heart.' That's what he did."
After Boozoo Chavis died in 2001 at age 70, his son said he received a letter from President George Bush praising his father's musical ability. Some called him the King of Zydeco, Chavis said.
Does that make him the prince?
"I'll have to pass that down to my sons," Chavis said with a huge laugh. "I'm kind of like the manager right now, doing the bookings and watching them play."
But every now and then, Chavis confessed he comes off the bench with his drumsticks.
"The kids are amazed I still have it," he said, continuing to laugh out loud. "At age 43, I ain't lost it."
Zydeco band Dog Hill Stompers will perform after the costume program, July 3 at the Sioux City Convention Center and after the Big Parade, July 4 at the Mildred Anderson Dance Pavilion.
The 11th annual Mardi Gras Festivale -- a joint effort of Sister Cities Sioux City and Lake Charles, La. -- kicks off three days of local celebration.
Combined, Thursday's Festivale, Friday's Big Parade and Saturday in the Park are expected to draw tens of thousands of people to town for three days.
Krewe de Charlie Sioux's World Tour
Sioux City will celebrate the annual Mardi Gras Festivale with food, music and entertainment for the entire family July 3 at the Sioux City Convention Center. General admission seating is once again free and open to the public.
The evening begins at 5 p.m. in the Convention Center east parking lot, with vendors, activities, and rides for the kids.
Inside the convention center, you can reserve a table and get a front-row seat for the costume gala which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 each with a meal and $10 each without a meal. A table of 10 can be purchased for $140. Reserved table meals will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Tyson Events Center Box Office or at the door. Call 279-4850 with questions regarding tickets.
A fireworks show will take place at dusk along the riverfront. Parking will be available at the Tyson Events Center parking lot, parking ramps and local businesses' parking lots.
The annual Big Parade will begin at 7 p.m., July 4, along the Riverfront. The parade route begins on the east side of Veteran's Bridge and extends to the walkway tunnel leading to Gordon Drive.
Festivities kick off earlier at 5 p.m. with a Children's Area at the riverfront, with a variety of inflatable rides, for only $2 admission. Concessions will be available on the riverfront from 5 to 10 p.m.
Event organizers welcome more parade entries and volunteers to handle the balloons. Call the Sioux City Convention Center at 279-4800.
"They're pretty amazing," said proud father, Rellis Chavis Sr., who is a well-known zydeco musician in his own right. "They surprise even me."
The Dog Hill Stompers, who will perform as part of the Mardi Gras Festivale, consists of three sons of Rellis Chavis Sr. who was the drummer for his father, Boozoo, and two sons of Licia Chavis who is one of Boozoo's daughters.
Rellis Chavis Jr., Cornell Chavis, and Quincy Trail are the three accordion players -- just as Grandpa Boozoo was. Mason Trail is on the bass guitar and the scrub board player is Justin Chavis. They are playing on all three of Boozoo's accordions and also their uncle Charles Chavis' scrub board.
The musicians have played in such places as the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the famous Rock-N-Bowl in New Orleans, also in Portland, Ore., the Lake Charles Contraband Festival, and the Cajun Wharf for Mardi Gras. They have just released a CD, called the Dog Hill Stompers. Their grandmother Leona Chavis has told them: "Your pawpaw Boozoo would be proud."
"The boys would watch me play with my father when they were younger and always wanted to get up on the bandstand and imitate me and my dad," Chavis recalled in a phone call from his home in Louisiana. "They were always inspired by my dad and the way he played his accordion."
The band was Boozoo Chavis and the Magic Sounds and consisted of Boozoo, his two sons, a bass player, a guitar player and sometimes a rhythm guitar player.
"I got interested in the music the same way my sons did -- watchin' Dad," Chavis said. "I came on board when I was 17 or 18."
Chavis said he had other career options in his life besides music.
"My dad also trained race horses and I continue to do that," he said. "But zydeco -- I was brought into it. Like any other culture, it was part of me."
Chavis also expressed a deep admiration for his father, who has been called one of the pioneers of zydeco music.
"The way he played had such energy," he said. "He was always trying to give the people what they wanted and I saw how they appreciated that.
"I would be behind him on the drums and I could see the feedback he would get the harder he played," Chavis added. "A lot of musicians understand the phrase, 'Play it from the heart.' That's what he did."
After Boozoo Chavis died in 2001 at age 70, his son said he received a letter from President George Bush praising his father's musical ability. Some called him the King of Zydeco, Chavis said.
Does that make him the prince?
"I'll have to pass that down to my sons," Chavis said with a huge laugh. "I'm kind of like the manager right now, doing the bookings and watching them play."
But every now and then, Chavis confessed he comes off the bench with his drumsticks.
"The kids are amazed I still have it," he said, continuing to laugh out loud. "At age 43, I ain't lost it."
Zydeco band Dog Hill Stompers will perform after the costume program, July 3 at the Sioux City Convention Center and after the Big Parade, July 4 at the Mildred Anderson Dance Pavilion.
The 11th annual Mardi Gras Festivale -- a joint effort of Sister Cities Sioux City and Lake Charles, La. -- kicks off three days of local celebration.
Combined, Thursday's Festivale, Friday's Big Parade and Saturday in the Park are expected to draw tens of thousands of people to town for three days.
Krewe de Charlie Sioux's World Tour
Sioux City will celebrate the annual Mardi Gras Festivale with food, music and entertainment for the entire family July 3 at the Sioux City Convention Center. General admission seating is once again free and open to the public.
The evening begins at 5 p.m. in the Convention Center east parking lot, with vendors, activities, and rides for the kids.
Inside the convention center, you can reserve a table and get a front-row seat for the costume gala which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 each with a meal and $10 each without a meal. A table of 10 can be purchased for $140. Reserved table meals will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Tyson Events Center Box Office or at the door. Call 279-4850 with questions regarding tickets.
A fireworks show will take place at dusk along the riverfront. Parking will be available at the Tyson Events Center parking lot, parking ramps and local businesses' parking lots.
The annual Big Parade will begin at 7 p.m., July 4, along the Riverfront. The parade route begins on the east side of Veteran's Bridge and extends to the walkway tunnel leading to Gordon Drive.
Festivities kick off earlier at 5 p.m. with a Children's Area at the riverfront, with a variety of inflatable rides, for only $2 admission. Concessions will be available on the riverfront from 5 to 10 p.m.
Event organizers welcome more parade entries and volunteers to handle the balloons. Call the Sioux City Convention Center at 279-4800.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
