Wilfred Pierre,
Steve "Skeeta" Charlot,
Chuck Bush
Born: November 01, 1952, Kinder, LA
Died: September 10, 1999, Kinder, LA
Active: '90s, 2000s
Genres: Cajun
Instrument: Accordion, Vocals
Representative Albums: "Pick Up on This!," "Gonna Take You Downtown," "Check It Out, Lock It In, Crank It Up"
Representative Songs: "Give Him Cornbread," "Nonc Adam," "Richard's Club"
Biography
Easily the biggest zydeco star of the 1990s, Beau Jocque heralded the rise of the genre's new, urbanized style; infusing his high-octane sound with elements of rock, soul, hip-hop and even reggae, he bridged the gap between traditional Creole culture and contemporary music to create a funky, bass-heavy hybrid calculated for maximum mainstream appeal. Born Andrus Espre in Duralde, LA, in 1952, Jocque spent his early adult years working as an electrician, but in 1987 he suffered a serious back injury which left him paralyzed from the waist down for over a year; during his recovery period he picked up his father's Cajun accordion, but always bored by traditional zydeco, he set about updating the music more to his own contemporary tastes. Jocque and his wife Michelle then spent the next five years painstakingly researching zydeco clubs, discovering which kinds of songs earned the greatest response from patrons; at the same time he absorbed the music of Boozoo Chavis, drawn by his propulsive rhythms. Finally, in 1991, he formed the Zydeco Hi-Rollers; the band was an immediate smash in the New Orleans circuit, drawing huge audiences -- many of them new to the Creole dancehall scene -- captivated by their hard-edged rhythms and Jocque's primal, cavernous vocals. A friendly rivalry with Chavis also increased his notoriety, and in 1993, the Hi-Rollers debuted with Beau Jocque Boogie, one of the best-selling zydeco records of all time. Pick Up on This! followed in 1994, and a year later they released the explosive live effort Git It, Beau Jocque!, which featured the hit "Give Him Cornbread." Gonna Take You Downtown appeared in 1996, followed two years later by Check It Out, Lock It In, Crank It Up! Beau Jocque died of a heart attack on September 10, 1999; the concert album Give Him Cornbread, Live! arrived nearly a year later. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Beau Jocque is known for his gruff vocals, his fusion of many musical styles onto zydeco, and above all, for the powerful energy of his rhythm and sound. Backed by the Hi-Rollers, he became one of the top dance-hall acts of his musical decade.
Beau Jocque died in the shower of a heart attack at the height of his career. He is buried in Saint Matildas Cemetery, Eunice, Louisiana.
Biography
Beau Jocque was born Andrus Espree. He was also known to write poetry, and preach about respecting nature. He spent nine years in the Air Force, then came home to work as an electrician and welder. After a work-related accident, which left him bedridden for a time, he began playing accordion. Soon after, he put a band together, including his wife, Shelly on rubboard. By 1989, just two years after his accident, Espree was one of the biggest draws on the Louisiana zydeco circuit.
A large man (6'6" and 270 pounds) he took the stage name "Beau Jocque," which is Louisiana Creole for "Big Guy." After only a few years, he had revolutionized the zydeco scene, adding funk and rock elements with his band, the Hi-Rollers. His lifestyle caught up with him, however, and after only a few years of regional stardom he died of a heart attack in 1999.
