Roy Carrier
Encyclopedia
Roy Carrier was an American Zydeco
musician. He was the father of Chubby
and Dikki Du Carrier, who followed their father into Zydeco music.
near Lawtell, one of 9 children in a sharecropping
family. Carrier's father Warren, himself a Zydeco musician, would play the accordion
on weekends at parties and la la dances. When Carrier was 6 years old, he began to accompany his father to these events, and would play along with him on the frottoir, or "rubboard". He continued this for several years, moving to drums and then to guitar.
His desire, however, was always to play the accordion like his father, and he would secretly practice on his father's accordion when Warren was away, risking a beating when he was caught. His father soon recognized his skill with the instrument and would then allow him to freely practice.
Carrier formed his first band in 1961, at the age of 14, with himself on guitar, a brother on drums, his uncle on the rubboard, and a local accordion player named Chris Johnson. The band was named The Night Rockers, and was the first version of the band that Carrier would continue to use throughout his life. Most of them being underage, the band could not play the local bars, but did play many parish dances.
Carrier would watch and learn from Johnson's accordion play, and continued to practice. After a year, Johnson left the band and Carrier prepared to take over the lead. However, around this time he lost most of his right index finger in a farming accident, preventing him from taking up the accordion, and impacting his guitar play for several years.
In 1972, the 25 year-old Carrier gave up farming and took a job as an offshore oil worker
. The job's work schedule was 7 days on the rig, followed by 7 days off, during which time he would continue to practice and play shows with his band. He would spend the next 16 years at this job.
Carrier had saved enough money while working the rigs that in 1980 he was able to purchase a small local club in Lawtell, which he named The Offshore Lounge. The club became a place for local Zydeco musicians to meet each other, and practice their skills together in "jam sessions" on Thursdays, which became a regular feature of the club.
During this era, Carrier used his club to encourage the development of Zydeco music in the area, and was instrumental in the early careers of many later well-known Zydeco musicians. Geno Delafose
and Beau Jocque
, among others, played the club early in their careers, Delafose getting his first paying performance from Carrier. Bassist Robby Robinson, later to form Zydeco Force
, began as a member of Carrier's band, and Carrier later lent the band equipment to get them started. Carrier's sons Chubby and Troy, as their father had done before, began playing with the Night Rockers by the time they were 10 years old.
In 1989, Carrier quit the offshore work and, with the encouragement of Chubby, began touring with the Night Rockers outside of Louisiana.
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
musician. He was the father of Chubby
Chubby Carrier
Roy "Chubby" Carrier is an American zydeco musician. He is the leader of Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band.Carrier's father and grandfather both played zydeco music, and his cousins recorded under the name The Carrier Brothers. He was taught to play accordion by his father, Roy Carrier Sr.,...
and Dikki Du Carrier, who followed their father into Zydeco music.
Early years
Roy Carrier was born February 11, 1947 in rural LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
near Lawtell, one of 9 children in a sharecropping
Sharecropping
Sharecropping is a system of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land . This should not be confused with a crop fixed rent contract, in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a fixed amount of...
family. Carrier's father Warren, himself a Zydeco musician, would play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
on weekends at parties and la la dances. When Carrier was 6 years old, he began to accompany his father to these events, and would play along with him on the frottoir, or "rubboard". He continued this for several years, moving to drums and then to guitar.
His desire, however, was always to play the accordion like his father, and he would secretly practice on his father's accordion when Warren was away, risking a beating when he was caught. His father soon recognized his skill with the instrument and would then allow him to freely practice.
Carrier formed his first band in 1961, at the age of 14, with himself on guitar, a brother on drums, his uncle on the rubboard, and a local accordion player named Chris Johnson. The band was named The Night Rockers, and was the first version of the band that Carrier would continue to use throughout his life. Most of them being underage, the band could not play the local bars, but did play many parish dances.
Carrier would watch and learn from Johnson's accordion play, and continued to practice. After a year, Johnson left the band and Carrier prepared to take over the lead. However, around this time he lost most of his right index finger in a farming accident, preventing him from taking up the accordion, and impacting his guitar play for several years.
Career
At the age of 17, Carrier returned to the accordion. Since he was now lacking the use of his right index finger, he had to develop a new method of play, known as "crossing chords" or "cross-chording" to achieve the sounds that the missing finger would normally produce. In 1965, he re-formed the Night Rockers band, with himself fronting the group on accordion, and Lawrence Chavis taking over Carrier's old position on guitar, and played the local bars and nightclubs around the area.In 1972, the 25 year-old Carrier gave up farming and took a job as an offshore oil worker
Offshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
. The job's work schedule was 7 days on the rig, followed by 7 days off, during which time he would continue to practice and play shows with his band. He would spend the next 16 years at this job.
Carrier had saved enough money while working the rigs that in 1980 he was able to purchase a small local club in Lawtell, which he named The Offshore Lounge. The club became a place for local Zydeco musicians to meet each other, and practice their skills together in "jam sessions" on Thursdays, which became a regular feature of the club.
During this era, Carrier used his club to encourage the development of Zydeco music in the area, and was instrumental in the early careers of many later well-known Zydeco musicians. Geno Delafose
Geno Delafose
Geno Delafose is a zydeco accordionist and singer. He is one of the younger generations of the genre who has created the sound known as the nouveau zydeco. His sound is deeply rooted in traditional Creole music with strong influences from Cajun music and also country and western...
and Beau Jocque
Beau Jocque
Beau Jacques was an American zydeco musician active in the 1990s.Beau Jacques 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...
, among others, played the club early in their careers, Delafose getting his first paying performance from Carrier. Bassist Robby Robinson, later to form Zydeco Force
Zydeco Force
Zydeco Force was an American zydeco band from Opelousas, Louisiana, consisting of Robby Robinson, Raymond Thomas and the two sons of Lawtell Playboys frontman Delton Broussard: Shelton, and Jeffery Broussard and Delton's nephew Herbert Broussard. They formed in 1988 and became a regional hit...
, began as a member of Carrier's band, and Carrier later lent the band equipment to get them started. Carrier's sons Chubby and Troy, as their father had done before, began playing with the Night Rockers by the time they were 10 years old.
In 1989, Carrier quit the offshore work and, with the encouragement of Chubby, began touring with the Night Rockers outside of Louisiana.
Discography
- Zydeco Strokin (Paula Records, 1995)
- Soulful Side of Zydeco (Zane Records, 1995)
- Roy Carrier at His Best (Zane Records, 1995)
- Nasty Girls (Right on Rhythm, 1996)
- Twist and Shout (Right on Rhythm, 1998)
- Offshore Blues & Zydeco (Right on Rhythm, 2000)
- Whiskey Drinkin' Man (Right on Rhythm, 2001)
- Living Legend (Severn RecordsSevern RecordsSevern Records is an American independent record label that concentrates on blues music. Since its founding in 1998, Severn has issued more than 50 albums. Its motto is "Roots Music for the 21st Century".-History:...
, 2004) - Zydeco Soul (Mardi Gras, 2006)