Jeffery Broussard

Jeffery Broussard (born March 10, 1967) is an American zydeco musician.

Broussard was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, to parents Ethel and Delton Broussard. He had five brothers and sisters, and he was the youngest child. During Jeffery's childhood, the family lived in Frilot Cove, near Opelousas, Louisiana, and his father worked as a sharecropper. Jeffery also worked much on the farm, leaving school after the seventh grade in order to help his family.

Jeffery Broussard's father was also an accomplished musician, and Jeffery was exposed to music early. His mother, Ethel, performed a cappella juré music at home. Broussard joined his father's band during childhood and went on to become a bandleader in his own right, first with musically innovative Zydeco Force, and then with Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys. One writer has described Broussard this way: he "wears his rural roots when he takes the stage. With his white-straw cowboy hat, silver-plated rodeo belt and black boots, it's as if he just jumped off a horse. He never removes his trademark toothpick from the corner of his mouth, even as he sings in a raspy, bluesy tenor and plays his single-row and triple-row accordions with fluttering triplets and melodic detours." Broussard has stated that Boozoo Chavis and—in contrast—his father are especially strong stylistic influences on his playing. Zydeco Force released seven albums from 1990 to 2004, all with Maison de Soul: Zydeco Force, The Sun's Going Down, Shaggy Dog Two-Step, Zydeco Push, It's La La Time, You Mean the World to Me, and Rock Awhile! Z-Force Style.

In 1994, Broussard led a tribute band performance for his recently deceased father at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. According to one reviewer, "His 'new' sound falls squarely between Creole la-la and today’s nouveau variety."

Broussard has performed at festivals such as New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Festival International, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, French Quarter Festival, Rhythm and Roots Festival the Louisiana Cajun–Zydeco Festival, Culture Campout, Bayou in the Butte Festival, and the Sugar Maple Music Festival.

Awards and honors

C.R.E.O.L.E. Inc.'s Zydeco Music & Creole Heritage Awards

OffBeat 's Best of the Beat Awards +YearCategoryWork nominatedResultRef.2008Best Zydeco AlbumKeeping the Tradition Alive! (Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys)

Discography

With Zydeco Force

With the Creole Cowboys

Guest appearances