# Captain Gumbo

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**Captain Gumbo** is a Dutch band formed in 1987, which plays mostly [zydeco](/source/Zydeco) and [Cajun music](/source/Cajun_music); that is, music in the French traditions of the U.S. state of [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana), based around the [diatonic accordion](/source/Diatonic_accordion). In 1990, their version of "[Allons à Lafayette](/source/Allons_%C3%A0_Lafayette)" (a song first recorded in 1928 by [Joe Falcon](/source/Joe_Falcon) and [Cléoma Breaux](/source/Cl%C3%A9oma_Breaux)) reached No. 30 in the Dutch singles chart. The band was still active as of 2013.

## History

Captain Gumbo was formed by [Mark Söhngen](/source/Mark_S%C3%B6hngen) (diatonic accordion and vocals), Hans Soeteman (bassist in the band RoToR), Joost Witte (drummer) and Gerard de Braconier (guitarist) (two members of the band [Toontje Lager](/source/Toontje_Lager)). Soeteman was soon replaced by [Leon Giesen](/source/Leon_Giesen) (who later became known as a filmmaker); who was later replaced by Nico Heilijgers; who was himself later replaced by Jan van den Berg. Keyboard player Roel Spanjers (of the band [Normaal](/source/Normaal)) has often played with the band, as has saxophonist Jan de Ligt.[1][2]

[Gumbo](/source/Gumbo) is a type of stew from Louisiana. It is the official cuisine of that state, which is also the heartland of zydeco and Cajun music. In 1980, [Queen Ida](/source/Queen_Ida) released the album *Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans*. It includes a song called "Capitaine Gumbo", co-written by her and her brother Al Lewis (AKA Al Rapone).[3] Captain Gumbo [covered](/source/Cover_version) the song: it is the second track on their first album, *1 More 2 Step*.[4] That suggests a possible origin for the band's name.

In 1990, Captain Gumbo released their first CD, *1 More 2 Step*. The opening track is their version of the song "[Allons à Lafayette](/source/Allons_%C3%A0_Lafayette)", first recorded in 1928 by [Joe Falcon](/source/Joe_Falcon) and [Cléoma Breaux](/source/Cl%C3%A9oma_Breaux). It was released as a single, and in 1991 it peaked at No. 30 in the official Dutch music singles chart.[5] On the back of that success, the band toured Louisiana, performing at [Breaux Bridge](/source/Breaux_Bridge), [Baton Rouge](/source/Baton_Rouge) and [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans), meeting their musical heroes such as [D. L. Menard](/source/D._L._Menard), [Eddie LeJeune](/source/Eddie_LeJeune), [Rockin' Dopsie](/source/Rockin'_Dopsie), [Marc Savoy](/source/Marc_Savoy), [Boozoo Chavis](/source/Boozoo_Chavis), [Chubby Carrier](/source/Chubby_Carrier), [Walter Mouton](/source/Walter_Mouton) and [Harry LaFleur](/source/Harry_LaFleur), and supporting [Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys](/source/Steve_Riley_and_the_Mamou_Playboys).[1][2]

Neither *1 More 2 Step* nor the band's next album *Back à la maison* (1992) (whose [liner notes](/source/Liner_notes) included an approving endorsement by record producer [Floyd Soileau](/source/Floyd_Soileau), who is Cajun)[2] was a commercial success. Their third album, *Chank-a-Chank* (1994), peaked in the official Dutch album chart at #79.[5] Their more recent releases have been commercially unsuccessful.

The band toured widely in the Netherlands, playing both large and small venues, and supported [Fats Domino](/source/Fats_Domino) at a concert in [Rotterdam Ahoy](/source/Rotterdam_Ahoy). They also performed in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. Since 2001, their live appearances have been less frequent.[2]

## Discography

- 1990 – *1 More 2 Step*, MW Records MWCD/MWMC 2001 [4][6] - 1991 – "[Allons à Lafayette](/source/Allons_%C3%A0_Lafayette)"
- 18 November 1992 – *Back à la maison*, MW Records MWCD 2006 [7][8]
- 1 March 1994 – *Chank-a-Chank*, MW Records MWCD 2012 [9][10]
- 5 May 1997 – *Midlife Two-Step*, MW Records [11][12]
- 6 July 2001 – *Gumbo No. 5* [13]
- 2013 – *Vive le Capitain* (live album, recorded at Café XL in [Wageningen](/source/Wageningen)), MW Records MW 2032 [1][2]

## Personnel

Band members have included:[1]

### As of 2013

- Gerard de Braconier, guitar and backing vocals, from 1987, formerly in the band [Toontje Lager](/source/Toontje_Lager)
- Jan de Ligt, saxophonist, from c. 2001
- [Mark Söhngen](/source/Mark_S%C3%B6hngen), diatonic accordion and vocals, from 1987, formerly in the duo Kruis & Mol
- Jan van den Berg, bass guitar and backing vocals, from c. 1994
- Joost Witte, drummer and vocals, from 1987, formerly in the band Toontje Lager

### Formerly

- [Leon Giesen](/source/Leon_Giesen), bass guitar, c. 1990 - c. 1994
- Nico Heilijgers, bass guitar, c. 1994
- Hans Soeteman, bass guitar, 1987 - c. 1990, formerly in the band RoToR
- Roel Spanjers, keyboards, c. 1994 - unknown date, of the band [Normaal](/source/Normaal)
- Rens van der Zalm, violinist, guest artist on *Back à la maison* (1992)

## Cover versions by Captain Gumbo

Many of the numbers performed by Captain Gumbo are their own interpretations (i.e. [cover versions](/source/Cover_version)) of earlier recordings. One writer claims to have identified more than 70 of them.[1] Such interpretations include:

- "[Allons à Lafayette](/source/Allons_%C3%A0_Lafayette)" – [Joe Falcon](/source/Joe_Falcon) and [Cléoma Breaux](/source/Cl%C3%A9oma_Breaux) (1928) – *1 More 2 Step*, *Vive le Capitain*
- "[Bayou Pon Pon](/source/Bayou_Pon_Pon)" – [Jimmie Davis](/source/Jimmie_Davis) and [Hank Williams](/source/Hank_Williams) (1951) – *1 More 2 Step*
- "Bosco Stomp" – [Lawrence Walker](/source/Lawrence_Walker) (1951) [14] – *1 More 2 Step*
- "Capitaine Gumbo" – [Queen Ida](/source/Queen_Ida), on the album *Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans* (1980) [3] – *1 More 2 Step*
- "[Diggy Liggy Ly](/source/Diggy_Liggy_Lo)" – [Rusty and Doug](/source/Rusty_and_Doug) (1961) – *Chank-a-Chank*
- "[Do Re Mi](/source/Do_Re_Mi_(Woody_Guthrie_song))" – [Woody Guthrie](/source/Woody_Guthrie) (1956) – *Chank-a-Chank*
- "[Down Yonder](/source/Down_Yonder)" – (instrumental) [Gid Tanner](/source/Gid_Tanner) (1931), (with lyrics) unidentified – *Midlife Two-Step*
- "[Et La Bas](/source/Eh,_La_Bas)" – [The Creole Stompers](/source/The_Creole_Stompers) (1944) – *Midlife Two-Step*, *Vive le Capitain*
- "Flemmes d'enfer" (original title, "Les flammes d'enfer) – [Austin Pitre & The Evangeline Playboys](/source/Austin_Pitre) (1979) [15] – *Vive le Capitain*
- "J'étais aul bal" – [The Balfa Brothers](/source/The_Balfa_Brothers) (before 1974) [16] – *1 More 2 Step*, *Vive le Capitain*
- "[Jole Blonde](/source/Jole_Blon)" – [Breaux Brothers](/source/Breaux_Brothers) (1929) – *1 More 2 Step*, *Vive le Capitain*
- "Jolie Catin" – [Boozoo Chavis](/source/Boozoo_Chavis) (1989) – *Midlife Two-Step*
- "La danse à limonade" (original title, "La danse de la limonade") – [Garolou](/source/Garolou) (1980), on the album *Romancero* [17] – *Midlife Two-Step*
- "Mamou Two Step" – [Lawrence Walker](/source/Lawrence_Walker) (1951) [14] – *1 More 2 Step*
- "[Maybellene](/source/Maybellene)" – [Chuck Berry](/source/Chuck_Berry) (1955) – *Vive le Capitain*
- "Parlez-nous à boire" – [The Balfa Brothers](/source/The_Balfa_Brothers) (1981) – *1 More 2 Step*
- "P'tit galop pour la pointe aux pins" – Adam Hebert (before 2002) [18] – *Back à la maison*
- "Sugar Bee" – [Cleveland Crochet](/source/Cleveland_Crochet) (1960) (covered by [Canned Heat](/source/Canned_Heat) on *[Future Blues](/source/Future_Blues_(Canned_Heat_album))* (1970)) – *Vive le Capitain*
- "[Sweet Liza Jane](/source/Li'l_Liza_Jane)" – Trad. – *Midlife Two-Step*
- "[Toot Toot](/source/My_Toot_Toot)" – [Rockin' Sidney](/source/Rockin'_Sidney) (1984) – *1 More 2 Step*, *Vive le Capitain*
- "[Walk of Life](/source/Walk_of_Life)" – [Dire Straits](/source/Dire_Straits) – *Back à la maison*, *Vive le Capitain*
- "[Walkin' to New Orleans](/source/Walking_to_New_Orleans_(song)) – [Fats Domino](/source/Fats_Domino) (1960) – *Chank-a-Chank*
- "[Wooly Booly](/source/Wooly_Bully)" – [Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs](/source/Sam_the_Sham_and_the_Pharaohs) (1965) – *Chank-a-Chank*

## References

1. Schuurmans, Eric. ["Vive le Capitain"](http://www.rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2013/OKT1/CD21.html) (in Dutch). *rootstime.be*. Retrieved 28 November 2017.

1. ["Biografie Captain Gumbo"](http://www.mwpromo.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2032-Gumbo-bio-NL.pdf) (in Dutch). *MW Records*. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

1. ["Captain Gumbo"](http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Captain+Gumbo&titel=Allons+%E0+Lafayette&cat=s). *[MegaCharts](/source/MegaCharts)*. Retrieved 26 November 2017.

1. ["*Midlife Two-Step* – Captain Gumbo"](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midlife-Two-Step-Captain-Gumbo/dp/B00DHVBZGC). *[Amazon](/source/Amazon_(company))*. ASIN B00DHVBZGC. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

1. ["Khoury's – 78 RPM – Label Discography"](http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/label/khourys). *45worlds.com*. Retrieved 26 November 2017.

## External links

- ["Captain Gumbo!"](http://www.captaingumbo.nl/). *Official website*. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ["Captain Gumbo"](http://www.genuinemusic.nl/captaingumboeng.htm). *genuinemusic.nl*. Retrieved 28 November 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Captain Gumbo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Gumbo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Gumbo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.