For those of you that don’t know, I had surgery on my right hand and elbow on August 11,2010 due to playing the Accordion for the past 30 years this month. This is not unusual. I found out that this occurs in most accordion players that play music for a living. I am very happy everything went great according to my surgeon.As of Friday January 7, 2011 my Doctor has released me with no limitations.I am looking forward to seeing all the dancers in the north east this month. I leave on the 19th of January and will be returning to Louisiana on February 7th. In the time being I will be at the Bayou Club in the 600 block of Bourbon Street in New Orleans,LA and when I am not touring are on other assignments I will be there with my band and sometimes with Waylon. Until I see you Happy New Year and may God bless all of you.
Aug 05 2010
Cortland, NY Summer Concert Series Update
We had a great time at Cortland last Friday! We’d like to thank our genial hosts, Tom and Connie; Amy and Jeff for bringing us out; and big props to the sound guys who helped make the show. We also want to thank Pam at the Oasis, and Joe Prush for contributing his exceptional fiddle playing. Last, but certainly not least, we thank all the dancers and folks who partied with us at Cortland, and the Oasis. We’ll see y’all real soon!
Jul 12 2010
Cortland, NY Summer Concert Series!
We will be traveling to upstate NY for the last week end in July to perform for the “Cortland, NY Summer Concert Series” on July 30th from 6 to 9 pm. Downtown Cortland is Center Stage with the Main Street Music Series this summer. Friday nights in downtown Cortland highlight local and nationally recognized musicians through downtown Cortland’s Main Street Music Series. During the six-week music series 12 bands will play a range of music genres from Blues to Swing and Reggae to Polka.
“The Main Street Music Series is all about bringing a range of great music to downtown Cortland,” said Howard Lieberman, one of the principal forces behind the Main Street Music Series. “Last year we were drawing more than a thousand people downtown on a Friday night for a concert. This year will be even better.”
The Main Street Music series is a locally produced and supported concert series planned and managed by volunteers. Donations as well as proceeds from beverage sales during the concerts pay for the bands, stage, sound crew and lights.
The concert is free and open to the public. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. at the parking lot next to the Market Place Mall at 64 Main Street in historic downtown Cortland. “The Main Street Music Series is an anchor to the event calendar in historic downtown Cortland,” said Lloyd Purdy, Director of the Cortland Downtown Partnership. “The volunteers who give their time to make the Main Street Music Series a success deserve a standing ovation from our community.”
Mar 30 2010
Bernard Boyat’s Review from Sur la Route de Memphis N°98
SAMMY NAQUIN – Big dog little dog ***** Ce n’est, en onze ans, que le deuxième album paru sous son nom, mais il en a enregistré d’autres au sein des Cajun Playboys. Pour une fois le terme zydécajun, qui le définit, n’est pas galvaudé : il s’agit bien d’un mélange de zydéco et de cajun, sans boogaloo, hip hop ou funk, avec
juste ce qu’il faut de rock’n’roll (“Jim Dandy“, “Bright lights, big city“), de rhythm’n’blues néo-orléanais (“Coconut song“) ou de swamp pop, une pointe de country, tout ce qui fait le charme des musiques de Louisiane du sud. Il interprète dans ce style les “Going back home“(Clifton Chénier), “Paper in my shoe“(Boozoo Chavis), “Hard to stop“, “Come with me“, “01-800-call-Paul“ou “Big dog, little dog“. Sa reprise d’“Act naturally“ (Buck Owens) ne surprendra pas les habitués de la Louisiane, les Cadiens puisant souvent dans le répertoire country. “Mine, mine, mine“ a des airs de “Promised land“ à la Johnnie Allan. Enfin, après celle de Bonsoir Catin, une deuxième version de “Donne-moi une autre chance“ (le seul morceau en français, seul reproche pour ce CD) à quelques jours d’intervalle, ça ne peut que réjouir les oreilles de tout honnête homme.
Feb 14 2010
Le CRI du Coyote By Bernard BOYAT Revue de Musiques Américaines Février-Mars 2010
SAMMY NAQUiN : Big Dog, Little Dog
Deuxième CD sous son nom, seulement, en 11 ans, pour Sammy et ses Zydeco Whips. Pour une fois le label qui lui est accolé, zydécajun, n”est pas usurpé et correspond à mon idée de ce style : un mélange à part égale de zydéco et de cajun, sans boogaloo, hip hop, funk ou que sais-je encore, mais avec une bonne dose de R!n!R (Jim Dandy, Bright lights, big city) de R!n!B néo-orléanais (Coconut song) ou de swamp pop, une pointe de country, bref tout ce qu”on aime des musiques de Louisiane du sud. Il interprète ainsi Going back home ( Clifton Chénier) Paper in my shoe (Boozoo Chavis) Hard to stop, Come with me, 1-800-call-Paul ou Big dog, little dog. Sa reprise d”Act naturally (Buck Owens) ne doit pas surprendre, les Cajuns ayant souvent puisé dans le répertoire country. Mine, mine, mine a des airs de Promised land à la Johnnie Allan. Enfi n, après celle de Bonsoir Catin, une 2ème version de Donne-moi une autre chance (le seul titre en français, seul reproche que je lui adresse) dans ma boîte à lettres en quelques jours, ça aide à narguer les intempéries.
Feb 13 2009
Some Reviews From Our Trip to The Frozen North
From Host of “Somebody Scream NY” at Eagles Hall in Ossining NY (1/10/09 Show)
We hosted Sammy Naquin and Al Berard for our dance last Sat. I really enjoyed the mix of music – everything from Zydeco to traditional Cajun. Having heard many bands over the years, I often am wary of me-too, sound alike. However, this band had some fresh takes on songs. Sammy Naquin played single and triple row accordions. Al Berard switched between fiddle and electric guitar. I really enjoyed when Sam and
Al played off each other with, whether fiddle & accordion with the Cajun, or Guitar and & triple row with Zydeco. They were whipping it up. – Jeremy Rice
Feedback from Boston Zydeco (1/11/09)
“The dance with Sammy and Al last night was wildly successful! The weather cooperated, and we managed to get almost 120 dancers, a huge amount for a Sunday afternoon. The Zydeco God’s were with us for sure … The crowd was wild for Sammy Naquin and Al Berard! This event gave Boston Zydeco a much needed jolt of energy.”
Rave Reviews from Abilene (1/13/09)
“The band featuring Al Berard and Sammy Naquin tore it up Tuesday night at Abilene. Al switched off from fiddle to guitar as they moved between Cajun and zydeco music. It’s fun, danceable, and they play with great energy and soul. The superb rhythm section features Sammy’s regular bass player (Troy), and RedLine Zydeco’s own Paul Mastriani on drums. A must-see event, this Saturday at the Harmony House”
“I was at Abilene’s Tuesday night. Sammy Naquin & the Zydeco Whips were fantastic! They are fantastic! I’d heard they were a bit different from what we’re accustomed at Harmony House. It’s almost like rock ‘n roll meets zydeco, but still with that true Zydeco spirit & extremely easy to dance to! The energy, spirit & personality of the musicians comes right through. And, most of all, they are having so much fun. It makes the whole experience with them even more positive as a result. Want to have fun? Come to Harmony House this Saturday night. Don’t worry about the cold. The place will be heated up with music and energy.”
Bruce – First, we now (as of ten minutes ago!) have Erie Railbender in stock! Second, and most important, thank you … for a great night with Sammy & the Whips, great music and great people … the room is always open to you…and last night was truly a blast. Please let Sammy and the guys know how appreciative I am … They rocked this little ‘ole house. thanks again,
Danny Deutsch ~~~ Humble saloon owner
A shout out from Silver Spring, MD at Los Arrieros (1/15/09)
YEAH YOU RIGHT! Boy, were you right about Sammy and Al. They brought out the biggest crowd I’ve seen at Los Arrieros (the dance floor was packed), Sammy & Al were on fire, and the audience went wild over them!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Live at Connolly’s & NYC, New York
We had just enough time to set up in Webster and play. As always the Rochester Zydeco Network were great to us. Always a packed house at the Harmony House. We are really blessed to have a friend like Bruce Handelman. My friend Cindy is the best. She stayed up until 2:30 am waiting for us at her home and then fixed us something to eat and gave us all warm beds to sleep in. After our showers, she had Coffee and Cinnamon Bread for us at 6:00 am. No one else would do this for us. Thank you Cindy.
We arrived in Manhattan and you guessed it, traffic everywhere. Time Square was everything anybody imagines it to be. My daughter was with me and we acted like tourists, taking pictures and looking at all the bright lights in the big city. Laura was glamorous, and so was Whitney.
From the first note, to the last everybody had fun dancing and cutting up at Connelly’s in the heart of Manhattan. It was nice seeing new faces. I would like to say to Gordon, it was nice meeting you. The stories Peter told me about you are very interesting and I would love to do some work with you. We had so much fun with everyone at the end with Big Dog Little Dog that the band has agreed to continue doing this at the end of every show.
Finally yet importantly, Thank you Ron Berard, I know you are a friend for life, but to the world you are a wonderful photographer for Time Magazine and the pictures you took of us are great and will help in promoting the Zydeco Whips. (See pics here)
Thanks again,
Sammy
Posted by Sammy Naquin & the Zydeco Whips at 7:27 PM 0 comments