Captain Gumbo is a Dutch band formed in 1987, which plays mostly zydeco and Cajun music; that is, music in the French traditions of the U.S. state of Louisiana, based around the diatonic accordion. In 1990, their version of "

Allons à Lafayette "Allons à Lafayette" is the B-side of a 78rpm single recorded by Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux in 1928. The song is based on an older traditional tune called "Jeunes gens campagnard". While there is some mystery on the reason Okeh Records ...

" (a song first recorded in 1928 by Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux) reached No. 30 in the Dutch singles chart. The band was still active .

History

Captain Gumbo was formed by (diatonic accordion and vocals), Hans Soeteman (bassist in the band RoToR), Joost Witte (drummer) and Gerard de Braconier (guitarist) (two members of the band ). Soeteman was soon replaced by (who later became known as a filmmaker); who was later replaced by Nico Heilijgers; who was himself later replaced by Jan van den Berg. Keyboard player Roel Spanjers (of the band Normaal) has often played with the band, as has saxophonist Jan de Ligt. Gumbo is a type of stew from Louisiana. It is the official cuisine of that state, which is also the heartland of zydeco and Cajun music. In 1980,

Queen Ida Ida Lewis "Queen Ida" Guillory (born January 15, 1929) is a Louisiana Creole accordionist. She was the first female accordion player to lead a zydeco band. Queen Ida's music is an eclectic mix of R&B, Caribbean, and Cajun, though the presence of ...

released the album ''Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans''. It includes a song called "Capitaine Gumbo", co-written by her and her brother Al Lewis (AKA Al Rapone). Captain Gumbo

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

the song: it is the second track on their first album, ''1 More 2 Step''. That suggests a possible origin for the band's name. In 1990, Captain Gumbo released their first CD, ''1 More 2 Step''. The opening track is their version of the song "

", first recorded in 1928 by Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux. It was released as a single, and in 1991 it peaked at No. 30 in the official Dutch music singles chart. On the back of that success, the band toured Louisiana, performing at

Breaux Bridge Breaux Bridge (;Jack A. Reynolds. "Breaux Bridge" entry i"Louisiana Placenames of Romance Origin."LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses #7852. 1942. p. 77. french: Pont-Breaux; frc, Pont-(de)-Breaux ) is a small city in St. Martin Parish, Loui ...

Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...

and New Orleans, meeting their musical heroes such as

D. L. Menard Doris Leon Menard#François90, François 1990, p. 446. (April 14, 1932 – July 27, 2017) was an American songwriter, performer, and recording artist in contemporary Cajun music. He was called the "Cajun Hank Williams". Biography Menard was bor ...

, Eddie LeJeune,

Rockin' Dopsie Alton Jay Rubin (February 10, 1932 – August 26, 1993), who performed as Rockin' Dopsie (sometimes Rockin' Dupsee), was an American zydeco singer and accordion player who enjoyed popular success first in Europe and later in the United States. B ...

Marc Savoy Marc Savoy ( ) (born October 1, 1940) is an American musician, and builder and player of the Cajun accordion. Early life He was born on his grandfather's rice farm near Eunice, Louisiana. His grandfather was a fiddler, who occasionally played w ...

Boozoo Chavis Wilson Anthony "Boozoo" Chavis (pronounced CHAY-viss) (October 23, 1930 – May 5, 2001) was an American accordion player, singer, songwriter and bandleader. He was one of the pioneers of zydeco, the fusion of Cajun and blues music developed ...

, Chubby Carrier,

Walter Mouton Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...

and Harry LaFleur, and supporting Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Neither ''1 More 2 Step'' nor the band's next album ''Back à la maison'' (1992) (whose liner notes included an approving endorsement by record producer

Floyd Soileau James Floyd Soileau (born November 2, 1938) is an American record producer. Biography Soileau was born in Faubourg, a small community between Ville Platte and Washington, Louisiana. He grew up speaking Cajun French and did not speak English un ...

, who is Cajun) was a commercial success. Their third album, ''Chank-a-Chank'' (1994), peaked in the official Dutch album chart at #79. Their more recent releases have been commercially unsuccessful. The band toured widely in the Netherlands, playing both large and small venues, and supported Fats Domino at a concert in Rotterdam Ahoy. They also performed in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. Since 2001, their live appearances have been less frequent.

Discography

* 1990''1 More 2 Step'', MW Records MWCD/MWMC 2001 ** 1991"

" * 18 November 1992''Back à la maison'', MW Records MWCD 2006 * 1 March 1994''Chank-a-Chank'', MW Records MWCD 2012 * 5 May 1997''Midlife Two-Step'', MW Records * 6 July 2001''Gumbo No. 5'' * 2013''Vive le Capitain'' (live album, recorded at Café XL in Wageningen), MW Records MW 2032

Personnel

Band members have included:

* Gerard de Braconier, guitar and backing vocals, from 1987, formerly in the band * Jan de Ligt, saxophonist, from * , diatonic accordion and vocals, from 1987, formerly in the duo Kruis & Mol * Jan van den Berg, bass guitar and backing vocals, from * Joost Witte, drummer and vocals, from 1987, formerly in the band Toontje Lager

Formerly

* , bass guitar, - * Nico Heilijgers, bass guitar, * Hans Soeteman, bass guitar, 1987 - , formerly in the band RoToR * Roel Spanjers, keyboards, - unknown date, of the band Normaal * Rens van der Zalm, violinist, guest artist on ''Back à la maison'' (1992)

Cover versions by Captain Gumbo

Many of the numbers performed by Captain Gumbo are their own interpretations (i.e. cover versions) of earlier recordings. One writer claims to have identified more than 70 of them. Such interpretations include: * "

" Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux (1928)''1 More 2 Step'', ''Vive le Capitain'' * " Bayou Pon Pon"

Jimmie Davis James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American politician, singer and songwriter of both sacred and popular songs. Davis was elected for two nonconsecutive terms from 1944 to 1948 and from 1960 to 1964 as the ...

and

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

(1951)''1 More 2 Step'' * "Bosco Stomp" Lawrence Walker (1951) ''1 More 2 Step'' * "Capitaine Gumbo"

, on the album ''Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans'' (1980) ''1 More 2 Step'' * " Diggy Liggy Ly" Rusty and Doug (1961)''Chank-a-Chank'' * " Do Re Mi" Woody Guthrie (1956)''Chank-a-Chank'' * "

Down Yonder Down Yonder is a popular American song with music and lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert. It was first published in 1921, and was introduced in the same year at the Orpheum Theater, New Orleans. Gilbert had written the lyrics for the 1912 song " Waiting ...

"(instrumental)

Gid Tanner James Gideon "Gid" Tanner (June 6, 1885 – May 13, 1960) was an American old-time fiddler and one of the earliest stars of what would come to be known as country music. His band, the Skillet Lickers, was one of the most innovative and influe ...

(1931), (with lyrics) unidentified''Midlife Two-Step'' * " Et La Bas"

The Creole Stompers ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

(1944)''Midlife Two-Step'', ''Vive le Capitain'' * "Flemmes d'enfer" (original title, "Les flammes d'enfer) Austin Pitre & The Evangeline Playboys (1979) ''Vive le Capitain'' * "J'étais aul bal" The Balfa Brothers (before 1974) ''1 More 2 Step'', ''Vive le Capitain'' * "

Jole Blon Jole Blon or Jolie Blonde is a traditional Cajun waltz, often called "the Cajun national anthem" because of the popularity it has in Cajun culture. The song was popularized on a nationwide scale by a series of renditions and references in late 194 ...

de"

Breaux Brothers Breaux Frères or Breaux Brothers (Amédé on accordion, Ophé on guitar, and Cléopha on the fiddle), were Cajun musicians. They were the earliest to record the song " Jolie Blonde", under the title of " Ma Blonde Est Partie". Amédé Breaux w ...

(1929)''1 More 2 Step'', ''Vive le Capitain'' * "Jolie Catin"

(1989)''Midlife Two-Step'' * "La danse à limonade" (original title, "La danse de la limonade")

Garolou Garolou is a Canadian progressive and folk-rock group. Formed in 1975 by French Canadians from Ontario and Quebec, the band was originally called Lougarou, but had to change its name after being sued by a dance troupe named ''Les Loups-garous'' ...

(1980), on the album ''Romancero'' ''Midlife Two-Step'' * "Mamou Two Step" Lawrence Walker (1951) ''1 More 2 Step'' * " Maybellene" Chuck Berry (1955)''Vive le Capitain'' * "Parlez-nous à boire" The Balfa Brothers (1981)''1 More 2 Step'' * "P'tit galop pour la pointe aux pins"Adam Hebert (before 2002) ''Back à la maison'' * "Sugar Bee"

Cleveland Crochet This is a list of notable Cajun musicians, Cajun music instrument makers, Cajun music folklorists, Cajun music historians, and Cajun music activists. List of Cajun musicians This is a list of musicians who perform or performed Cajun music. Th ...

(1960) (covered by Canned Heat on '' Future Blues'' (1970))''Vive le Capitain'' * " Sweet Liza Jane"Trad.''Midlife Two-Step'' * " Toot Toot" Rockin' Sidney (1984)''1 More 2 Step'', ''Vive le Capitain'' * "

Walk of Life "Walk of Life" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, the third track on their fifth studio album '' Brothers in Arms'' (1985). It subsequently appeared on their live album '' On the Night'' (1993). It was released as a single October ...

Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and percuss ...

''Back à la maison'', ''Vive le Capitain'' * "

Walkin' to New Orleans "Walking to New Orleans" is a 1960 song by Bobby Charles, written for and recorded by Fats Domino. The record was a hit, released on Imperial Records, reaching #6 on the pop chart and #2 on the R&B chart. Background Domino was a hero of Charl ...

Fats Domino (1960)''Chank-a-Chank'' * " Wooly Booly" Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1965)''Chank-a-Chank''

References

External links

* * * * {{Authority control Musical groups established in 1987 Dutch musical groups Cajun musicians Zydeco musicians