Buckwheat Zydeco, Famed Bandleader and Accordionist, Dead at 68

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: Rolling Stone



Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural Jr., the accordionist and ambassador of zydeco music who performed under the stage name Buckwheat Zydeco, died Saturday following a battle with lung cancer. He was 68.

"It is with deep sadness that I have to announce that our great, beloved leader Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural, Jr. has passed away. He died at 1:32 AM Louisiana time, keeping musician's hours right to the bitter end," Dural's manager Ted Fox wrote on Facebook.

"I am grieving for my best friend and colleague of more than 30 years. But, as this great road warrior once said: 'Life is a tour, and it's all about how you decide to get where you're going…I don't want to ignore the bad things in life, but I want to emphasize the good things.' Buck made everything and everyone he touched better and happier. RIP my dear friend, my brother."

Family friend Dustin Cravins added to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, "It's a tough one for us and the entire Zydeco community and the greater music community. Words like legend and icon are tossed around so much these days that it almost sounds watered down, but he was the true definition of it."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/buckwheat-zydeco-bandleader-and-accordionist-dead-at-68-w441863

[Xipe Totec]

1. I love his music. nt

[canetoad]

2. I never thought

The piano accordian could be a cool instrument until I heard Zydeco.

[UnFettered]

3. I had the pleasure of watching him live a few times

He was a ledgend and will be missed.

[New Orleans Strong]

10. I mean!

Great performer and artist.

[kyburbonkid]

14. Cornbread... He put on a fantastic show!

My wife and I saw him and he had the whole place up and dancing.

[Monk06]

15. Same here re Clifton Chenier Saw him at Harpo's in Victoria 1980 He was 20 minutes late

had to stop off at the hospital for a dialisis treatment and then played a three hour set

Canadian health care so he didn't have to pay for the treatment

His brother was on the washboard haulin in the ladies all night long

Those dudes was tough and dedicated

[jalan48]

4. Sad news-I love his music especially the CD that is live at El Sid O's.

[LuckyLib]

5. He joined Jimmy Fallon for the last night of the Late Late Show.

They did "On a Night Like This" -- it was fabulous. I only found a poor quality YouTube, (since taken down) but they were both great.

What a sad loss for all of us.

[nolabear]

6. Breaks my heart. Cross easy, Dural.

[cyberswede]

7. Aw man.

[turbinetree]

8. Wow............................

[SunSeeker]

9. The sound of New Orleans.

[ghostsinthemachine]

11. I was with him the night Katrina hit

At a show in Sacramento. I was hospitality, so I got to hang with him and his band. I asked them if they were scared and why they were in CA instead of with their families. They said they couldn't go back, they might be trapped and unable to tour if they went home. The concern for their families evident, but being able to continue playing was the most important thing going. He played the show of his life that night, taking time during to watch the TV I had going, so he could keep up.

Great guy. Thanks for the music.

[jonestonesusa]

12. RIP to one of the greatest ever!

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Damn sad news. He and his band were big fun to dance to at the Maple Leaf in NO, and the times they

came up to the North East.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

16. Lay Your Burden Down, sir.

Thanks for the kickass zydeco. RIP.

[MissMillie]

17. the music was just plain FUN

RIP

and

thank you

[Sunlei]

18. A great legend. Around here every Sunday, 90.1 plays hours of lovely Zydeco music.

[lark]

19. His music is so upbeat and fun,

I will greatly miss seeing him at next year' NO Jazz Fest. His was always a must see show, every single year he brought it with immense joy and verve.

RIP, the world is a better place due to your contributions.

[kwassa]

20. Club 88 in Los Angeles ....

late 80s?

Very informal set, in a small club that cooked up a huge pot of gumbo, and the band took a break and we all ate together.

I loved Buckwheat, and love zydeco. Here is my favorite:

[Lunabell]

21. Damn another one

His music sryle will be missed. I love Zydeco.