Biography
Roy "Chubby" Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band reshape the classic 2-steps and blues-inspired rhythms of zydeco into contemporary dance-driven sounds. The Chicago Tribune called Carrier "one of the finer standard bearers of the classic zydeco sound among the new generation of Louisiana bands," The Worcester Telegram and Gazette praised him for his "unbridled enthusiasm and the ability to make a party happen whether he's playing for five people or five hundred," and The Atlanta Daily News observed that Carrier "knows how to let the good times roll with the power and precision of a seasoned musician."
Carrier descends from one of zydeco's most influential families. His grandfather stood among the genre's earliest musicians. His father, Roy Carrier, Sr., continues to juggle oil-rig duties with performances by his own ensemble. Several cousins toured and recorded as the Carrier Brothers.
After learning accordion from his father, Carrier debuted with his father's band at age 12. Through most of his teenage years he instead played drums in the group, switching to accordion only when his father's schedule prevented participation.
After handling accordion in multiple high school outfits, Carrier accepted an invitation in 1986 to play frottoir with Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys. He remained until 1989, when he formed his own band with brothers Troy "Dikki Du" Carrier and Kevin Carrier sharing washboard duties. The original lineup also featured lead guitarist David LeJeune and bassist Rodney Dural. Shortly after its formation the group recorded its debut album, Go Zydeco Go. Its first nationally distributed release, Boogie Woogie Zydeco, appeared in 1991. Breakthrough arrived with the third album, Dance All Night. Released in 1993, the album earned the Living Blues critics award as "Best Zydeco Album of the Year." Carrier's fourth album, Who Stole the Hot Sauce, contained striking renditions of War's "The Cisco Kid" and Pete Townshend's "Squeeze Box."
Carrier descends from one of zydeco's most influential families. His grandfather stood among the genre's earliest musicians. His father, Roy Carrier, Sr., continues to juggle oil-rig duties with performances by his own ensemble. Several cousins toured and recorded as the Carrier Brothers.
After learning accordion from his father, Carrier debuted with his father's band at age 12. Through most of his teenage years he instead played drums in the group, switching to accordion only when his father's schedule prevented participation.
After handling accordion in multiple high school outfits, Carrier accepted an invitation in 1986 to play frottoir with Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys. He remained until 1989, when he formed his own band with brothers Troy "Dikki Du" Carrier and Kevin Carrier sharing washboard duties. The original lineup also featured lead guitarist David LeJeune and bassist Rodney Dural. Shortly after its formation the group recorded its debut album, Go Zydeco Go. Its first nationally distributed release, Boogie Woogie Zydeco, appeared in 1991. Breakthrough arrived with the third album, Dance All Night. Released in 1993, the album earned the Living Blues critics award as "Best Zydeco Album of the Year." Carrier's fourth album, Who Stole the Hot Sauce, contained striking renditions of War's "The Cisco Kid" and Pete Townshend's "Squeeze Box."
Albums
