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| South Louisiana has always been known for it’s rich heritage of Jazz, Blues and Zydeco music. People from all over the world flock to New Orleans to get a taste of the rich food and sounds that they associate with “Fat City.” Selwyn Cooper has worn out 3 passports taking the sounds of the deep south to people from Coast to Coast tours of the United States and has expanded his travels to Canada, Turkey, Africa, Sweden,French, Australia, Germany and Italy. This guitar virtuoso of Jazz,Blues and Zydeco has contributed to 2 Grammy Award winning CD’s. The first was for 100%Zydeco in 1983 and again in 1984 Turning Point with Buckwheat Zydeco. We all hit the jackpot when he made the first LA. Lottery commercial and feel a little closer to him since his Close-Up toothpaste ads on television and radio with Rockin Dopsie. At Jazz fest in New Orleans 2005, he and Soul Diva, Carol Fran schooled up the Critics Choice Award. We are still tracking his history but to date we can count 12 appearances at N.O. Jazz fest so far and then jazz fest all over the country and even the world. We may as well throw in The World Fair in New Orleans’ while we are at it! In 1987, he was heard in the soundtrack of “The Big Easy” with Buckwheat Zydeco deemed by the New York Times as one of the best 10 records of the year. December of 1992 in “Delta Heat” when Mickey Rourke entered the bar in the middle of the movie, you saw and heard Selwyn wailing on the guitar with Rockin Dopsies’ band. Just a few of Selwyn’s career highlights include: 1971 Started playing professionally with Buckwheat and the Hitchhikers R&B band. They later became known as Buckwheat Zydeco. 70’s Played with Carol Basely – former backup singer for Ike & Tina Turner 1980 New Orleans Jazz fest with Marcelle Dugas 1981 New Orleans Jazz fest with Buckwheat Zydeco 1982 New Orleans Jazz fest with Buckwheat Zydeco 1982 Montreal Jazz fest with Buckwheat Zydeco 1982 Played with Big Momma Thornton in a little club in Montreal just across the street from Jazz fest in Montreal just across the street from Jazz fest in Montreal 1983 New Orleans Jazz fest with Buckwhear Zydeco 1984 New Orleans Worlds Fair 1983 Granny Award winning – 100% Zydeco was recorded with Buckwheat Zydeco. 100% Zydeco is due to be released again September 2005 by Shout Factory and distributed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. They credit Selwyn’s terrific guitar playing on the press release announcing the new release. 1985 New Orleans Jazz fest with Buckwheat Zydeco 1985 recorded Turning Point with Buckwheat Zydeco and snagged a 2nd Grammy. 1986 New Orleans Jazz fest with Buckwheat Zydeco 1987 played an awesome lead guitar on Jolie Blanc on the soundtrack for the movie “The Big Easy” 1990 New Orleans Jazz fest with Rockin Dopsie 1990’s Selwyn was one of the performers chosen to play at the Meridian Hotel in Paris for the World Peace conference attended by leaders all over the world. 1990 Jazzadalia with Rockin Dopsie Also during the 90’s Selwyn toured with Beau Jacque in the United States and according to the New York Times “took the East coast by storm” and then took Zydeco to people in Turkey for the first time. 1991 New Orleans Jazz fest with Rockin Dopsie 1992 New Orleans Jazz fest with Rockin Dopsie 1992 Soundtrack and brief appearance in the movie “Delta Heat” starring Mickey Rourke with Rockin Dopsie. 1992 Close-Up toothpaste commercial with Rockin Dopsie 1992 1st Louisiana Lottery Scratch off commercial with Rockin Dopsie 1992 Australian tour & T.V. Talk Show Australia with Rockin Dopsie 1992 Africa Island Reunion with Rockin Dopsie 1993 New Orleans Jazz fest with Rockin Dopsie 1993 Opened for Miles Davis at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium with Rockin Dopsie 1993North Sea Jazz fest in Amsterdam, Holland with Rockin Dopsie 1993 met the wife/music partner of his hero Clarence Holliman Carol Fran and she was so impressed with His playing that not only have they been playing gigs Together since but she also gave him Clarence Holliman’s guitar. According to Acadiana Lifestyles magazine “if you heard him play you’d know why” Nick Pittman – March 2005 – Article on Selwyn Cooper 1997 Festival International – Zydeco Hurricanes. 1998 Played with C.P.Love at Tattoos on Bourbon Street 2000 Umbria Jazz fest both with Johnny Nocturnes band and with Selwyn’s band 2002 Marsha Ball Jazz fest Houston Downtown 2002 Monroe Folk life Festival 2002 New Orleans Jazz fest – with Marsha Ball 2002 Blues Masters at the Crossroads with Develle Crawford 2003 WWOZ Annual Piano Night with Soul Diva Carol Fran 2005 New Orleans Jazz fest with Carol Fran and won the Critics pick Award according to bestofneworleans.com Selwyn opened so many shows for B.B.King he can’t Count them. We are presently tracking this. The following is a partial list of some of the artist Selwyn has performed with: Rockin Dopsie Sr. The Commodores Rockin Dopsie jr. Joe Cocker Clifton Chenier Sr. Sherman Robertson C.J. Chenier King Karl Develle Crawford Guitar Gable Cyril Neville Fernest Arceneaux George Benson Big Daddy Reed Al Joreau Allen Toussant Cab Calloway Major Handy Frankie Ford Lil’ Buck Senegal Paul Simon Buckwheat Zydeco Pat Coin Major Handy Carol Fran Beau Jacques Irma Thomas Jerry Embre Marcia Ball Cookie & The Cup-Cakes Sicily Houston Phil Phillips Big Momma Thornton Ghetto Man Riley Marva Wright Gordon Wilkes Ellis Marcellas Jr. Johnny Nocturne Kat & The Kittens Miles Davis James Cotton Guitar Slim Harmonica Red Bobby Charles Corey Bell Carol Basly-former Lil’ Bob backup singer Ike & Tina Turner Lynn August Alonzo Johnson Anchorman Ed Bradley can’t resist joining in when the music gets kicking. Ed played scrub board with Selwyn & Rockin Dopsie at the N.O.Jazzfest for 3years Running! Partial Listing of CD’s Selwyn Cooper has played on: 1983 – 100% Fortified Zydeco – Buckwheat Zydeco Record Co. – Black Top Records -1984 Grammy Award Winner: This one was so good that Shout Factory has pulled it out of Black Top records pantry and will release it again Sept. 13, 2005 and Sony BMG Music Entertainment will distribute it. Their press release States “It starts with a hip swaying version of Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford’s 1962 R&B hit “ I need your lovin that features terrific guitar work from Selwyn Cooper” 1984 – Turning Point Buckwheat Zydeco Blue Jay Studio 1985 Grammy Award Winner – You may remember the incredible music in the movie – “The Big Easy.” If you do, you heard Selwyn Coopers guitar work. At the end of the movie as it closes with Dennis Quaid waltzing into the room with his new bride to “Jolie Blanc.” Buckwheat Zydeco says “Hey Cooper” and you hear an awesome lead by Selwyn Cooper. What a climatic ending! 1988 – Let Me in Your Heart C.J.Chenier Archoolie This one is especially noted for Selwyn Cooper and C.J. Chenier trading accordion and guitar licks working one another into a musical frenzy you don’t want to miss. 1991 – Hit Rod C.J. Chenier Slash 1991 – Rockin Dopsie/Zydeco Twisters Selwyn Cooper on guitar Atlantic 1992 – I’m Coming Home C.J. Chenier NYNO then released again Archoolie 1993 – The Pink Cadillac Lynn August Blact Top Records 1994 – Louisiana Zydeco Featuring Selwyn Cooper Mardi Gras Records 1997 – Bayou Hot Sauce Various Artists Rounder Records 1999 – Louisiana Swamp Blues Selwyn Cooper & the Hurricane Blues Band Sounds of New Orleans 1999 – Buckwheat’s Zydeco Party Buckwheat Zydeco Tomorrow Recordings 1999 – The Buck Starts Here Lil’ Buck Senegal NYNO 2000 – Archoolie 40th Anniversary Collection 1960-2000 The Journey of Chris Strochwitz 2002 – Fran-tastic Carol Fran Sounds of New Orleans 2002 – My Baby Don’t Wear No Shoes C.J. Chenier SONO then released again Archoolie 2002 – Zydeco: The Essential Collection Various Artist Rounder Records 2003 – Buckwheat Zydeco Classics Buckwheat Zydeco Rounder Records 1999 – The Buckwheat Zydeco Party Buckwheat Zydeco Tomorrow |
Selwyn Cooper