Rochester Cajun Zydeco Network

Special treat!!! Opening the show
Jim Miller’s alt-country, honky tonk band
“Demijohn”
(30 minute set)
VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/1393472

Preston Frank is one of the last of the older Creole style of accordion players. He makes real Creole music from the small rural community of Soileau, Louisiana and is an important force in preserving traditional Creole French music. He is the father of Keith Frank, one of the most popular young Zydeco artist of today in Louisiana.

As Dirk Powell puts it:
“When you hear Preston Frank singing “I was born in the country” in the song “Creole Man” you sense instantly that he embodies the best of what that statement means – an openness and generosity of spirit, an inseparable bond with his culture, a mix of humility and expressiveness that makes his music sparkle. His driving accordion licks grab you. His vocals growl. His rhythms get your blood pumping.”

LOCATION:          Harmony House - 58 East Main St. Webster (Rt. 404)
DATE:                     May 18, 2013
TIME:                      7:15 – Zydeco Dance lesson with Esther Brill / 8:00-11:00 - Performance
INFO:                     (585) 727-4119, zydjunky@rochester.rr.com

Ticket info: $15 in advance (available at stores listed below) / $18 day of show / $10 with valid Student ID

The Bop Shop - 1460 Monroe Ave, Brighton
Stutzman’s Guitar Center - 4405 West Ridge Rd, Greece
The Music Store - 18 E. Main St, Webster
Out of town? Send check payable to “RCZN” with a SASE to “Bruce Handelman / 175 Greenaway Road / Rochester NY 14610”

Well just who is Big Daddy Zydeco? We all know he’s Preston Frank, one of the last of seasoned Creole style of accordion players and father of Keith Frank who is without a doubt one of the top young Zydeco performers in Louisiana today. But beyond Preston, Big Daddy Zydeco is a collaboration between Preston Frank and former members of Donna the Buffalo, a band deeply influenced by Preston – Jim Miller/guitar and Jed Greenberg/bass, who’ve played with Preston countless times over the years at festivals and on tour while with Donna the Buffalo. The late night / all night Zydeco Dance tent at the Grass Roots Festival is legendary for countless reasons. A piece of the legend flows from the lock in groove Preston held with Jim and Jed. When I told Preston about the possibility of this tour his eyes lit up with excitement. He knew the musical possibilities were rich. He was also excited by the unknown, by bringing together these musicians with such deep connection and letting it flow, Preston knew magical things are bound to happen. Be there for the excitement. Be there for the magic. Be there for Big Daddy Zydeco … Preston Frank.

Jim Miller – Guitar - Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Tara Nevins, Preston Frank and Big Daddy Zydeco, Rough Gems, Demijohn.
Jed Greenberg - Bass - Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Tara Nevins, Preston Frank and Big Daddy Zydeco, Carol Elizabeth Jones, TurtleDuhks, Rough Gems, Demijohn.
Ryan Cady – Drums – Horse Flies, Boy with a Fish, Hubcap, Preston Frank and Big Daddy Zydeco, Mary Lorson & Saint Low, Rough Gems, Demijohn.
Rosie Newton – Fiddle - Richie Stearns, Evil City String Band, The Pearly Snaps, Ferintosh (internationally touring Celtic band)
Thomas Bryan Eaton – Guitar and Petal Steel Guitar - Miss Tess, Yvette Landry, Donna the Buffalo, Preston Frank and Big Daddy Zydeco, Kelley and the Cowboys, Yonder Mountain String Band, Basement Band, Your 33 Black Angels, The Breedings, Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwartz, Minerva Lions, Serena Jean, JP Harris and the Tough Choices, The Crooners, Vancans, Elephant Revival, Rachel Platten, Steve Waitt, and many, many more.

YOUTUBE VIDEOS:
Preston Frank and Big Daddy Zydeco @ Lilac Fest 2010 – Part 2
http://vimeo.com/12539677?ab

Preston Frank Family Band … joined by members of Donna the Buffalo playing Boozoo Chavis song "Zydeco Hee haw" at Shakori Hills Grassroots Music Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yCRXJXjPPw

• A link to the traditional zydeco sound of an era gone by, accordionist Preston Frank is best known in many circles as the father of nouveau zydeco star Keith Frank. But as Keith knows, he would not be where he is without his Big Daddy. Big Daddy, Preston Frank, born in Oberlin LA in 1947.

• Comes from a family of respected Creole musicians families who can trace their musical lineage at least as far back as Preston’s great-grandfather Joseph Frank Jr., an accordion player, and his great-greatgrandfather, Joseph Frank Sr., who played fiddle. Also in the lineage is his uncle, the esteemed Carlton Frank, one of the few traditional Creole fiddlers who was recorded including on Preston’s 2003 release, Born in the Country.

• And one of the reasons Preston has kept in the public’s awareness outside of Louisiana is his long association with the band Donna the Buffalo and his family’s annual pilgrimage to the Grass Roots Festival in Trumansburg NY, the home of the true ALL NIGHT Zydeco Dance Tent. Countless people outside of Louisiana got their first exposure to Zydeco music and the captivating dance groove listening to Preston and Keith jam with members of Donna the Buffalo. Importantly Grass Roots and the Donna the Buffalo connection provide a wonderful stage on which to gain people’s respect, and just as importantly, gave Preston much joy as he played effortlessly with musicians who deeply appreciated his authenticity.

• The reality is Preston is a quiet humble but proud man, proud of who he is and proud of how is kids have risen to the top of the Louisiana Zydeco world. But at this point Preston’s prominence is not based on some ironic twist, riding the coattails of his son’s success, rather the respect Preston has earned is based on his carrying the torch of the deep Creole Zydeco groove which dancers and music lovers are so easily captivated by. Tara Nevins of Donna the Buffalo was inspired to pick up the accordion and incorporate it into their sound out appreciation of Preston’s groove. Preston Frank lives on. Creole Zydeco lives on.