b. April 16th, 1939 in Duralde (Louisiana)
d. September 17th, 1994 in Lawtell (Louisiana)
ZYDECO MAN
Arhoolie
JOE PETE GOT TWO WOMEN
Arhoolie
May 1980
Enfant, il se confectionne des guitares et des violons rudimentaires. Puis, il apprend l'harmonica mais surtout l'accordéon à boutons dès ses 18 ans. Il partage d'abord son temps entre le travail à la ferme et la musique. Enregistré au studio Master-Trak de Crowley, produit par Chris Strachwitz, ce "Zydeco man" est le premier disque de John Delafose avec son groupe régulier : Charles Prudhomme (guitare), Joseph "Slim" Prudhomme (basse), John "T.T." Delafose Jr (frottoir) et Tony Delafose (batterie). John chante souvent en créole un Zydeco campagnard dansant et excitant, réhaussé de son jeu d'accordéon rythmique et saccadé. Ce premier opus apparait comme une remarquable réussite remplie de titres magnifiques : "Rag around your head", "Petite et la grosse", son morceau emblématique "Joe Pete a deux femmes", "Lonesome road". Cet album est partiellement repris dans le CD Arhoolie "Joe Pete got two women".
As a child, he made rudimentary guitars and fiddles. Then, he learned harmonica but especially the button accordion from his 18 years. He first divides his time between farm work and music. Recorded at Master-Trak studio in Crowley, produced by Chris Strachwitz, this "Zydeco man" is John Delafose's first album with his regular backing band : Charles Prudhomme (guitar), Joseph "Slim" Prudhomme (bass), John "T.T." Delafose Jr (rubboard) and Tony Delafose (drums). John often sings in Creole a dancing and exciting country Zydeco, enhanced by his rhythmic and jerky accordion playing. This first opus appears as a remarkable achievement filled with magnificent titles : "Rag around your head", "Petite et la grosse", his emblematic piece "Joe Pete a deux femmes", "Lonesome road". This album is partially included in the Arhoolie CD "Joe Pete got two women".
UNCLE BUD ZYDECO
Arhoolie
JOE PETE GOT TWO WOMEN
Arhoolie
September 1981 / May 1982
Ce second disque pour Arhoolie rassemble une face live et une face studio. La partie live est captée dans un festival local en 1981 et la partie studio au Master-Trak de Crowley en mai 1982. Quelques beaux moments comme "Oh negress", "Oh petite fille", "Joe Pete lost his two women", "One hour too late", "Jole blonde", "Mother's day blues" et "Uncle Bud zydeco". On note qu'il s'agit de la première apparition de son fils Geno Delafose à la batterie. Cet album est partiellement repris dans le CD Arhoolie "Joe Pete got two women".
This second opus for Arhoolie brings together a live side and a studio side. The live part was captured at a local festival in 1981 and the studio part at the Crowley Master-Trak in may 1982. Some beautiful moments like "Oh negress", "Oh petite fille", "Joe Pete lost his two women", "One hour too late", "Jole blonde", "Mother's day blues" and "Uncle Bud zydeco". We note that this is the first appearance of his son Geno Delafose on drums. This album is partially included in the Arhoolie CD "Joe Pete got two women".
JOE PETE GOT TWO WOMEN
Arhoolie
September 1981 / May 1982
Ce CD Arhoolie regroupe une partie de "Zydeco man" et une partie de "Uncle Bud zydeco" (ces deux disques n'ont jamais paru en CD). On trouve également dans le programme deux excellents inédits : "Johnny can't dance" et "Sweet girl in Texas".
This Arhoolie CD includes a part of "Zydeco man" and a part of "Uncle Bud zydeco" (these two albums never issued on CD). There are also two excellent new unissued tracks in the program : "Johnny can't dance" and "Sweet girl in Texas".
FESTIVAL DE MUSIQUE ACADIENNE '81 LIVE
Swallow
FESTIVALS ACADIENS LIVE 1981
Louisiana Crossroads
September 1981
ZYDECO EXCITEMENT
Maison de Soul
1981 / 1983
STOMP DOWN ZYDECO
Rounder
March 1988
ZYDECO LIVE
Rounder
March 1988
Concert bouillant au Richard's Club de Lawtell. Avec son groupe régulier, John Delafose délivre une performance dynamique et irrésistible. On trouve de superbes versions de "I done got over it", "Oh yi lil girl", "Poor man two step".
Boiling concert at Richard's Club in Lawtell. With his regular backing band, John Delafose delivers a dynamic and irresistible performance. There are great versions of "I done got over it", "Oh yi lil girl", "Poor man two step".
J'AI ETE AU BAL vol.2
Arhoolie
1980's
Ici une autre version de "Joe Pitre a deux femmes" avec une qualité sonore moyenne.
Here another version of "Joe Pitre a deux femmes" with an average sound quality.
HEARTACHES AND HOT STEPS
Maison de Soul
1989
Produit par Mike Lachney et Todd Ortego pour le label Maison de Soul, ce disque est enregistré aux mythiques studios Master-Trak de Crowley. Excellente tranche de Zydeco terrien, intense et dansant dont John Delafose est un des meilleurs représentants. Il s'agit d'ailleurs de son travail le plus abouti. Le programme est accrocheur et puissant : "Ka wann", "Mon coeur fait mal", "It won't be long", "Bon chien two step", "What a wonderful world", "Hungry man blues", "Goin' home". Trois titres supplémentaires sont disponibles dans la version CD.
Produced by Mike Lachney and Todd Ortego for Maison de Soul label, this album is recorded at the legendary Master-Trak studios in Crowley. Excellent slice of down-home, intense and dancing Zydeco of which John Delafose is one of the best representatives. It is, moreover, his most accomplished work. The program is catchy and powerful : "Ka wann", "Mon coeur fait mal", "It won't be long", "Bon chien two step", "What a wonderful world", "Hungry man blues", "Goin' home". Three additional titles are available in the CD version.
PERE ET GARCON ZYDECO
Rounder
December 1991
John joue toujours avec son fils Geno qui joue soit de l'accordéon soit de la batterie. Cet album est produit par Scott Billington. John est au washboard quand son fils prend l'accordéon. Quelques beaux moments très intenses : "Down in Texas way", "Grand mamou", "Two step farouche", "Pere et garçon zydeco", "La misère m'a fait brailler".
John still plays with his son Geno who plays either accordion or the drums. This album is produced by Scott Billington. John is on the washboard when his son takes the accordion. Some very intense moments : "Down in Texas way", "Grand mamou", "Two step farouche", "Pere et garçon zydeco", "La misère m'a fait brailler".
PASSION FISH
Daring
April 1992
Dans la bande son de ce film réalisé par John Sayles, on trouve trois superbes morceaux de John Delafose : "Oh negresse", "Grand mamou" et "Poor man's two step".
In the soundtrack of this film directed by John Sayles, there are three superb pieces by John Delafose : "Oh negresse", "Grand mamou" and "Poor man's two step".
MUSIC FROM THE ZYDECO KINGDOM
Rounder
September 1992
BLUES STAY AWAY FROM ME
Rounder
April 1993
Avec son groupe régulier toujours dans son style typique de Zydeco - un peu Blues, un peu Cajun - campagnard terrien et irrésistible, John délivre à nouveau une poignée de titres qui valent l'écoute comme "Joe Simien special", "Outside woman", "Baby bye bye", "Scott Playboys special", "Blues stay away from me", "Make me yours", "Co fe" (où John joue du violon). Production de Scott Billington.
With his regular backing band always in his typical down-home and irresistible country Zydeco style - a little Blues, a little Cajun - John again delivers a handful of titles that are worth listening to as "Joe Simien special", "Outside woman", "Baby bye bye", "Scott Playboys special", "Blues stay away from me", "Make me yours", "Co fe" (in which John plays fiddle). Production by Scott Billington.