{{short description|American zydeco accordionist and singer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Geno Delafose | image = GenoDelafose2006.jpg | caption = Delafose at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 2006 | image_size = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|2|6|mf=y}} | death_date = | birth_place = Eunice, Louisiana, U.S. | instrument = Accordion | genre = Zydeco | occupation = Musician, singer | years_active = 1994 - present | label = Rounder Records<br>Times Square Records | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|www.genodelafosemusic.com}} | current_members = | past_members = }}
'''Geno Delafose''' (born February 6, 1971)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.folklib.net/index/birth/birth_d.shtml#Delafose,Gn|title=FolkLib Index - Musician's Birthdays/Bibliography (D)|website=Folklib.net|access-date=January 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name="geno">{{cite web |url=https://www.genodelafosemusic.com |title=Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=www.genodelafosemusic.com |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref> is an American zydeco accordionist and singer. He is one of the younger generations of the genre who has created the sound known as the nouveau zydeco. His sound is deeply rooted in traditional Creole music with strong influences from Cajun music and also country and western. His father was the fellow zydeco accordion player, John Delafose.
==History== Delafose was born and raised in Eunice, Louisiana.<ref name="geno" /> At the age of eight, he joined his father's band, the Eunice Playboys as a rubboard player<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Block |first1=Melissa |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1297080|title=Geno Delafose, Keeping Zydeco in the Family|website=Npr.org|date=June 12, 2003 |accessdate=January 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fuselier |first=Herman |date=Dec 24, 2013 |title=Here comes 2014: Festive events ring in new year |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/community/2013/12/25/here-comes-2014-festive-events-ring-in-new-year/4193913/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525031958/https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/community/2013/12/25/here-comes-2014-festive-events-ring-in-new-year/4193913/ |archive-date=2022-05-25 |access-date=2024-02-24 |work=The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana)}}</ref> and continued to play with the band until his father's death in 1994. He also appeared on several of the band's recordings. He switched to the accordion in the early 1990s and started to play as an opening act for his father.
In 1994, he debuted with album ''French Rockin' Boogie'' on Rounder Records. The name of this album also became the name of his band with whom he still plays. He released two more albums on the label, before signing with Times Square Records to release ''Everybody's Dancin''' in 2003.<ref name="AM">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/geno-delafose-mn0000197890/discography |title=Discography: Geno Delafose |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
He has also appeared on the compilation album ''Creole Bred: A Tribute to Creole & Zydeco'' released in 2004 by Vanguard Records.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/creole-bred-a-tribute-to-creole-zydeco-mw0000331316/credits |title=Creole Bred: A Tribute to Creole & Zydeco: Credits |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
He was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album category for his 2007 album ''Le Cowboy Creole''.<ref name="grammy">{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/geno-delafose/12334 |title=Artist: Geno Delafose |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=www.grammy.com |publisher=Recording Academy |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
Delafose lives in Duralde, near Eunice, Louisiana, where he operates his Double D Ranch raising cattle and horses. He also holds fan appreciation parties annually at the ranch.<ref name="geno" />
== Awards and honors ==
=== Grammy Awards === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Category !Work nominated !Result !Ref. |- |2008 |Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album |''Le Cowboy Creole'' |{{nom}} |<ref name="grammy" /> |}
=== ''Gambit'''s Big Easy Music Awards === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Category !Result !Ref. |- |2008 |Best Zydeco |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coviello |first=Will |date=2009-03-08 |title=Big Easy Music Awards |url=https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/big-easy-music-awards/article_984641af-afaf-5ba3-b3c9-464b44017ec5.html |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}}</ref> |}
=== ''OffBeat'''s Best of The Beat Awards === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Category !Work nominated !Result !Ref. |- |2003 |Best Zydeco Album |''Everybody's Dancing'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-08 |title=Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List |url=https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/,%20https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=OffBeat Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814182218/https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |2011 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |}
== Discography == *1994 - ''French Rockin' Boogie'' (Rounder) *1996 - ''That's What I'm Talkin' About!'' (Rounder) *1998 - ''La Chanson Perdue'' (Rounder) *2003 - ''Everybody's Dancin''' (Times Square) *2007 - ''Le Cowboy Creole'' (Times Square)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.genodelafosemusic.com/index.html Official site] * {{allMusic|artist/geno-delafose-mn0000197890}} * {{Discogs artist}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100323080529/http://www.ritmoartists.com/Geno/delafose.htm Geno's page on Ritmo Artists] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625162526/http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/delafose.htm LSU Eunice website on Geno] *[http://www.rootsWorld.com/rw/feature/delafose.html Interview in Rootsworld magazine] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120229160744/http://worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=2393 World Music Central biography] *[http://www.pbase.com/dgaar/geno_delafose Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie Photo Gallery]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Delafose, Geno}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Cajun accordionists Category:Louisiana Creole people Category:People from Eunice, Louisiana Category:Rounder Records artists Category:Singers from Louisiana Category:Zydeco musicians Category:21st-century American accordionists Category:21st-century African-American male singers Category:21st-century American male singers Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers