Lynn August

One of zydeco's most versatile performers, Lynn August spiked his native southwestern Louisiana sound with elements of pop, gospel, and R&B. Born in 1948, the blind August was encouraged by his mother to pursue a career in music, and he was raised on a steady diet of zydeco, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and swamp-pop. A multi-instrumenatlist from his youth, he played with Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural during the mid-'60s, later mounting a solo career as well as sitting in with local swamp-pop combos and leading a big band. In 1988, August turned to the accordion and began his zydeco career in earnest, forming the Hot August Knights. August debuted with It's Party Time, followed by Zydeco Groove (1989) and Creole Cruiser (1992), with the acclaimed Sauce Piquante appearing a year later. He also worked in computer technology, and founded his own company to create computer solutions for the visually impaired.