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Mike,
as band frontman and on lead guitar and most vocals, is
probably most well-known for his part in the local reggae
groups The Amateurs and Panyelo. He
took an immediate liking to the sound, song selection,
and groove of zydecopious at its early formative
practices. With crisp and compelling guitar leads on his
Strat, soulful vocalizations, warm rapport with the audience,
and waist-length dreadlocks twirling, Mike gives Zydecopious
its flash and verve. "I love doing what I do with
this band," says Mike. "I can be creative, entertaining,
and be more than myself. Can't beat that!" |
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Leo
began music lessons early on, liked the accordion, and
stayed with it. He loves to play the old standards, but
is enthralled with zydeco's chant-like repetition and
compulsive drive. Before he was smitten with zydeco,
he played in North Carolina Theater productions of "Fiddler
On The Roof" and "La Cage Aux Folles";
Meredith College's "Cabaret"; and NCSU's "She
Loves Me". In La Cage, he, not being an actor, appeared
and played on the Memorial Auditorium stage twice in each
show, which shortened his life, he expects, by some five
years. |
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Mick,
on the Roland electronic organ, is a newcomer to North
Carolina. A New Yorker all his life, he moved to Garner
in June 2006, taking a position at NCSU. In upstate NY,
Mick played with the zydeco band Gumbo YaYa out
of Ithaca. With Bodhi’s and Tracy’s help,
he spurred the formation of Zydecopious in late
2006. Mick is a huge zydeco fan, and includes the names
of Clifton Chenier, Boozoo Chavis, Beau Jocque, and Roy
& Chubby Carrier among his favorite zydeco performers.
His “zepiphany” occurred after several pre-2003
visits to the French Quarter, Lafayette, and the southern
Louisiana parishes. “There’s nothing as magical
as good zydeco,” says Mick, “played with energy,
passion, a deep groove, and the goal of making the music
irresistibly dance-able and toe-tapping for the audience.” |
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Tracy
plays bass, sings several vocal leads, and helps with
the harmonies. Tracy began playing after high school around
Miami, Fl., and later, in California, was part of a blues
band led by the now internationally known harmonica player
and singer, James Harman. Through playing with Harman,
he met and played with many well known blues artists including
Big Joe Turner, George Harmonica Smith, Rod Piazza, Hollywood
Fats, Walter Trout and many others. A big fan of New Orleans
music, he had the opportunity to play with a few musicians
who introduced him to zydeco in the late 90’s. Zydecopious
is his first “full-on” zydeco band, and he
is loving it! His many years of experience contribute
to a tight, energetic rhythm section that drives the band,
and his soulful vocals help round out the sound. Tracy
moved to the Raleigh area in October of 2005 with his
wife Donna. |
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Ed,
on drums. Playing in bands since high school (in New Jersey),
Ed arrived in NC in 1983. Influenced by rock, blues, jazz
and the musical gumbo of New Orleans, Ed drives the beat
that makes you move your feet! His Zydecopious stint is
his first jump into the zydeco genre, and, according to
Ed, "....it has been an ear-opening experience of
new rhythms and big fun!" Ed taps his 25 years of
playing with several other local bands as a way of keeping
the zydeco and R&B rhythms of Zydecopious fresh and
funky. As he plays, be sure to check out Ed's many facial
expressions of wonder, focus, effort, and enjoyment. |
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Kenny
plays rub board (a.k.a. "froittoir") and adds
back-up vocals (he sings lead on his original, "Down
In Loozy-Anna"). “Playing scrub is very different
than all my other musical ventures, and a ton of fun,”
says the veteran singer/songwriter/guitarist. Kenny’s
been performing for over 25 years at clubs, colleges and
coffeehouses. His baseball song, "Ernie Shore,"
has been featured on WUNC’s Back Porch Music, and
his "Chasing Clay" (about American Idol star
Clay Aiken) received lots of local airplay in 2003. He
has opened for Mike Cross, Joan Jett, Don Dixon, Michael
Reno Harrell, and others. He is a 2008 recipient of a
Raleigh Arts Council grant to complete a children's album.
His website is www.kennyshore.com.
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