Richard Allen
Accordian &
Vocals |
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A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Richard Allen comes from three generations of accordion players. From a very early age Richard was immersed in the cultural music of Southwest Louisiana through his family. Richard has many loving childhood memories of dancing and listening to his Great Uncle playing zydeco, Cajun and the blues at porch parties into the early mornings.
However, it wasn't until Richard's early days at undergraduate school that at the ripe age of 19 he was first introduced to the music of Clifton Chenier, one of the premier pioneers of zydeco music. From that first moment of his zydeco epiphany, Richard was hooked and he continued to immerse himself in the zydeco scene in the Lafayette area. Richard purchased his first accordion and began regularly going to see Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Cha's at one of Lafayette's popular night clubs, El Sido's. It was at this point that he began learning his first zydeco songs and learning the dance.
Richard then moved on to Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA, completing his musical education, creating zydeco bands along the way and polishing his musical talents. During this time period, Richard's bands performed with such major artists as Sean Costello, Charlie Wooton, Fish Mouth Fools, Sid Wolf and the Brazilian Group Tropicus. One of the highlights of Richards career while in Atlanta was opening up for Pat Benatar with the Kelly Williams Band.
Richard then returned to Lafayette, creating new zydeco bands and sharing the stage with such zydeco luminaries as Chubby Carrier, Nathan Williams, Curley Taylor and Harry Hypolite.
Richard has since moved to Seattle where he is exploding on the local zydeco and blues scene with his new band, Richard Allen and the Louisiana Experience. Richard's high energy, kick butt and takin' names music is becoming the talk of the town. Richard and his band take over the stage and the dancers fill the floor with bliss.
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