Monday, February 2, 2009

Zydeco flows in Curley Taylor's blood

Curley Taylor is a man who has had Louisiana music flowing through his veins since he was born.
"It's always been my passion," Taylor said. "Anyone who knows me knows will tell you 'he's always singing, he never shuts up' or I'm always just making a little beat to myself."
As the lead vocalist and accordion player for the band "Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble" - who played the Night of Louisiana show at Finch Fieldhouse on Saturday night - Curley grew up around music and got his start touring with his father's band, "Jude Taylor and the Burning Flames."
At the age of 16, he began playing the drums and touring with the 'Burning Flames.' Taylor said the drums were one of his childhood toys.
Taylor said he incorporated some of the style of his father's band into "Zydeco Trouble."
"He had a real bluesy sound to his," he said. "I sound bluesy, but with more R&B."
Taylor said one of his favorite parts playing Zydeco is the fact that it is a new music style to most people.
"I love just traveling and exposing the music to people, watching people enjoy themselves. After it's over I get to say to myself, 'Whoa, I made those people have a good time,'" he said. "Then everybody goes, 'What is this you're playing?
What is this kind of music? ... To me I just want it to be a good introduction to the music and for them to look forward to seeing me again."
Taylor also said he loves to play Zydeco music because it has been constantly evolving.
"We are bringing a new movement that is happening in Louisiana with Zydeco. It has gone from something that was sort of hillbillyish - some sort of folk music - to now sounding more up to date," he said. "More like more polished, something on the radio or TV."
Taylor also recently appeared in HBO's "True Blood."
"It was filmed out in LA, but was taking place in Louisiana. I was playing accordion in a band and singing. It was a good experience, I couldn't wait to see myself on HBO," he said.
The Zydeco that Taylor has been trying to popularize has gained fans throughout America and around the world.

"I went to Holland, to do a festival," he said. "Zydeco has grown so much that there is Zydeco bands in Japan, in Turkey - all over the place."

HERE

Check him out here with C.C. Adcock

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