Lynn August obit

Lynn August, blind zydeco and blues star from Lafayette, dies at 76

 

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ccording to his early recollections, Lynn August remembers having some sight until he was about four years old. His vision failed rapidly after that though, and August would spend the rest of his life blind — but that didn't stop him from becoming one of Louisiana's celebrated zydeco and blues musicians.

August, a native of Lafayette, died on Wednesday, Feb. 12, according to social media reports. He was 76 years old.

KRVS radio host Herman Fuselier shared a few notable aspects of August's career on Facebook. In 1961, when he was around 13 years old, the musician had the opportunity to play with legendary soul singer-songwriter Sam Cooke at a show in Opelousas. The star was so impressed, he invited August to travel to Los Angeles to work with him.

"Cooke was going to record August, but died a short time later," according to Fuselier.

Sam Cooke was shot and killed by a motel manager in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, 1964 at the age of 33.

Born in Lafayette on Aug. 7, 1948, August loved zydeco since childhood. His uncle was accordionist Claude Duffy, and after attending Louisiana School for the Blind in Baton Rouge, August sang and played drums with Duffy's band. When he was only 11, his skills on the drums attracted the attention of R&B performer Esquerita, who is credited as an early influence to Little Richard.

August played percussion and keyboards with Esquerita when the singer was in New Orleans, and at an early point in his career he also regularly played with another burgeoning young star — Grammy winner Stanley Dural, of Buckwheat Zydeco fame.

An accomplished organist, as well as pianist, accordionist, drummer and singer, August was especially active in the 1980s and '90s. He recorded albums "Creole Cruiser" and "Sauce Piquante," toured Europe, and started a company called Touch Tech in the mid-1990s, designing and selling computers for the visually impaired.

A 1992 column for the Los Angeles Times, written by Bill Locey, reveals what a compelling figure August was. Locey interviewed August prior to the city's Ojai Bowlful of Blues festival, and called August's band, the Hot August Knights, "about the coolest zydeco band to ever squeeze an accordion."

Despite his visual impairment, August said he "loved old music and old cars," saying, "the only thing I don't like is, no one will let me drive my own car."

In the interview August stated, “I guess my music is more of a traditional, bluesy style."

"It’s a lot like Clifton Chenier, which isn’t really what I want to do — not copy him, but more preserve what he was trying to do. He really was the ‘King of Zydeco.’ But, you know, originally, he wanted to be a blues singer. I didn’t just jump on the wagon just to make money. I could always afford a Cadillac.”