Boozoo Chavis
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008) Wilson Anthony Chavis Boozoo Chavis at the 2000 Original Southwest Zydeco Festival. Background information Birth name Wilson Chavis Also known as Boozoo Chavis Born (1930-10-23)October 23, 1930 Origin Louisiana Died May 5, 2001(2001-05-05) (aged 70) Genres Zydeco Occupation(s) Musician, accordionist, singer Instruments Cajun accordion Years active 1954–2001 Wilson Anthony "Boozoo" Chavis (born October 23, 1930 in Lake Charles, LA and died May 5, 2001 in Austin, Texas) was a zydeco musician – music created by French speaking Creoles of South-West Louisiana. He was active from 1954 until his death during which time he largely sang and played the accordion. Chavis was also a prolific writer of zydeco songs. Many of his songs have become standards of the zydeco repertoire, in spite of, or perhaps because of, their generally idiosyncratic and quirky construction and subject matter. "If it's wrong, do it wrong, with me," he would tell his band. "If I'm wrong, you wrong, too!" His wife's name was Leona and they had six children, Wilson Jr., Margret, Louanna, Charles, Licia, and Rellis Chavis and had over 20 grandchildren. Boozoo was crowned "The King of Zydeco" in New Orleans in the 1990s. His son Charles was a member of his band at the time.