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Andre Thierry’s childhood was deeply influenced by his late grandfather Houston Pete Pitre (Pa-Pa as they called him) from Basile, Louisiana and his loving grandmother, known to all as Mama Lena Pitre from Soileau, Louisiana. Around the early 70’s Thierry’s grandparents began giving French Creole (La-La) dances at their church parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church, in Richmond, California. Zydeco musicians from Louisiana would visit them and play at these dances. Thierry was told by Ma-Ma that “ The King of Zydeco”, Clifton Chenier, who was one of those visitors, grabbed him by the arms at the age of three and deemed him a future accordian player. Thierry’s Pa-Pa, Houston Pete, encouraged the young Thierry to play the accordian.

Andre Thierry was captivated by “The King of Zydeco”, Clifton Chenier. Thierry began teaching himself by listening to Clifton Chenier’s music with an accordian given by one local musician, Billy Wilson of MotorDude Zydeco, then was upgraded by another given to him by his mother, “Tee” as they call her while she was on visit to Louisiana. This was the platform that developed Thierry’s love for the traditional southern French Creole music.

At age of ten, Andre Thierry was able to play his first song “Give’m Cornbread” the Willis Prudhomme version in the backyard of his grandparents. He later began playing Clifton Chenier’s music on stage at dances all over the Bay Area in California. By age twelve, Thierry formed a band, with the help of his mother, “Tee”, labeling them “Zydeco Magic”. Thierry sat in with a few traveling bands such as John Delafose, Geno Delafose, local bands, which includes the late Danny Poullard, Motordude Zydeco, and Zydeco Flames.

Over the past years Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic have been capturing the attention of music lovers and dancers worldwide. Andre Thierry released the first CD “It’s About Time!” in 1999. Thierry has raised the bar for Zydeco musicians nationwide. Thierry is a legend before his time and is an exceptional multidimensional self taught musician who has embraced his ability to merge traditional Zydeco music with hip-hop, blues, jazz and rock. As quoted from an article published in Eh Toi magazine 2002, “There is no accordian player in Zydeco that uses his left hand as well as Andre Thierry.” Andre Thierry released his second CD “A Whole Lot of something” in 2004.

Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic will capture your attention with his melodic fingers as they embrace the brass buttons of his accordions, creating music that will captivate your souls, soothe your minds and have your feet dancing all night long. As the late great Clifton Chenier said once, "if you have arthritis you won’t have it no more".

Pick up Andre Thierry's music at: www.ZydecoOnline.com