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Accordion ace Corey Ledet has made fans dance to zydeco on the beaches of Hawaii. He’s toured Russia with his own security detail in tow.
Ledet recently had so many Alaskans moving and grooving at the Anchorage Folk Festival that the astonished promoter booked him for another fest.
But after 22 years on stages near and far, along with two Grammy nominations, Ledet admits the March 11 gig at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans gives him butterflies. He plays at the halftime show of the Pelicans-Clippers basketball game, his first NBA gig.
“I still get a little nervous before I play,” said Ledet, 43. “The anticipation builds up.
“Then once I finally get there, I settle down. This is going to be pretty cool.”
Pelicans fans will get a sample of a self-taught, squeezebox wizard nicknamed “The Accordion Dragon.” Accordionists are almost on every corner in Acadiana, the south central and southwest corner of Louisiana that is the homeland of zydeco and Cajun music.
Ledet is one of the talented few to master the complex, piano-accordion style of Grammy Hall of Famer and “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier. In fact, Ledet has played at Chenier’s grave when particular tunes gave him the blues. Those troubles soon faded in Chenier’s presence.
Ledet’s study and extraordinary talent have produced more than a dozen albums and tours to 15 countries.
Yet Ledet lives a reality for many musicians in this music-crazed state. Although homegrown musicians entertain thousands and earn Grammy nominations and victories, few can afford to play music full time. Those that do must travel.
Ledet drives 18-wheelers for Amazon, a job that gives him steady pay, health benefits, retirement and a flexible schedule for music on the weekends.
Ledet is also among the road warriors whose music is accepted more on the road than at home. Ironically, Ledet decided five years ago that all his future songs would be written in Kouri-Vini, the Creole language spoken by his family in St. Martin Parish.
The all-Creole “Corey Ledet Zydeco” album that followed earned a Grammy nomination in 2021.
“The style of music I play, it might not put me over too well at home, which is OK,” said Ledet. “Now I enjoy getting out more, seeing different things, meeting new people.
“This music has taken me to Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Paris — and two Grammy nominations. I’ll take it.”
His evolution continues. With “Black Magic,” an all-black, customized accordion imported from Italy, Ledet is working on an all blues album and holding auditions for band members skilled in the genre.
Ledet is also adding jazz, reggae, rock and more to his accordion gumbo. He’s expecting more of the world to eat it up.
“If you look up blues festivals, you won’t be able to count them. That’s how many blues festivals there are worldwide.
“It’s the same formula that Clifton (Chenier) and Buckwheat (Zydeco) did. You can play the blues on a piano accordion.
“Blues is like Jell-O. There’s always room for it.”
Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.
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