ARTIST AUDIO ::
Listen to audio sample (.mp3 audio file)

ARTIST WEB LINKS ::
Andre Thierry website
Video of Thierry and Bandin Attleboro, MA in August '09

Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic

"... as the story goes, when I was a little boy, too young to remember, Clifton Chenier was staying at my grandma's house (Ma Ma Lena). Once day, he looked down at me, grabbed my arms and announced that I would grow up to be an accordion player." - Andre Thierry

“A master at...pumping out fast, funky rhythms on an instrument not usually associated with earthy syncopation. A versatile student of the music, Thierry can't be lumped into Zydeco's old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau, rap-inspired one: He and his band, Zydeco Magic, lay down both soulful, traditional slow-dances and bottom-end-booming kinetic groovers.” - Washington Post

Andre Thierry, arguably THE up-and-coming young talent on the international Zydeco circuit, has been capturing the attention of musicians and music lovers since he was a toddler. Andre’s French Creole heritage is deeply rooted in Louisiana although he was born and reared in northern California. Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom of Zydeco, considered the definitive book on the history of that music, wrote, "Thierry is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, and he combines youthful vigor with a mature appreciation for his inherited tradition."

Andre’s story begins July 9, 1979, when he was born in Richmond, California to Olivia “Tee” Guillory originally from Basile, Louisiana and Gregory Thierry, originally from Jennings, Louisiana. Andre’s childhood was deeply influenced by his maternal grandparents, the late Houston Pete Pitre (Pa-Pa as they called him) from Basile, Louisiana and his grandmother, known to all as Mama Lena Pitre from Soileau, Louisiana.

Andre grew up experiencing the French Creole dances his grandparents held at their church parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church. The best Zydeco musicians Louisiana had to offer traveled to California to play at the dances and spent considerable time at the Pitre’s house while in the area. On one such visit, the “King of Zydeco,” the late great Clifton Chenier, grabbed three-year old Andre by the arms and deemed him a future accordion player. From then on, Andre’s Pa-Pa, Houston Pete, encouraged the young Andre to play the accordion.

He soon began playing Clifton Chenier’s music on stages all over Northern California. By age twelve, Andre formed his own band, "Zydeco Magic.” Andre’s repertoire grew by leaps and bounds as he was regularly invited to play with numerous visiting bands, such as the late John Delafose, his son, Geno Delafose, and many local Zydeco and Cajun bands.

Andre is a virtuoso on all the accordion types, single row, double row, triple row and piano key. He effortlessly moves across types to deliver an energetic two-step, traditional Creole waltz, hard-driving blues or a blend that is his own sound. Although Andre’s instrument of choice is the accordion he also displays talent on bass guitar, rhythm guitar and drums. Thanks to his parents and grandparents he sings traditional songs in original Creole French and his voice has matured into rich and soulful tones. He is a gifted composer and song-writer and his music and CDs feature many of his original tunes.

The San Francisco Bay Area, home to some of the best blues musicians in the world, showed its appreciation by presenting Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic with the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame award for “Best Zydeco Group” in 2008. Andre continually raises the bar for Zydeco musicians worldwide. At only 29 years old, he is already a legend.