John Delafose

John Irvin Delafose (April 16, 1939 – September 17, 1994) was an American French-speaking Creole Zydeco accordionist from Louisiana.

Biography
Delafose was born in Duralde, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.  As a child, Delafose fashioned fiddles and guitars out of old boards and cigar boxes fitted with window-screen wire.  He eventually took up the harmonica, and at the age of 18 learned the button accordion.  However, he soon turned to farming, and did not pursue music as a career until the early 1970s.  He began serving as an accordionist and harpist with a variety of local Zydeco bands.

Delafose began his career playing in the fais do-do of his area, a Cajun dance party.  Later he gained public recognition with albums like Joe Pete Got Two Women (Arhoolie) and Blues Stay Away from Me (Rounder).  In the mid-1970s he formed the band The Eunice Playboys, with which he played until his death.  The band continues under the direction of his son Geno Delafose.

John Delafose died in 1994.

Style
Delafose had a dynamic style and strong rural roots, with a strong staccato rhythm on the accordion, which has influenced almost all current Zydeco musicians.

Discography

Studio and live albums

Singles

Various artist compilation albums

References

External links
 
 

Category:1939 births
Category:1994 deaths
Category:20th-century American musicians
Category:African-American musicians
Category:American accordionists
Category:Blues musicians from Louisiana
Category:People from Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
Category:Rounder Records artists
Category:Zydeco accordionists
Category:20th-century accordionists