BIG CITY BLUES RAPPIN’ WITH QUEEN IDA An Interview by Johnny Ace This meeting with Queen Ida was done by phone. I must say that she is not only a very sweet and compassionate woman, she has the patients of a saint. I had a James Bond spy styled phone rig for the tape recorder hooked up to my phone. My tape recorder has a built in microphone and James Bond gadget only works with a tape recorder that it can be directly plugged into. I didn’t have the funds to buy a new machine so in advance, I told Queen Ida the situation. Our remedy was this: I’d ask her the questions while taping my voice, and when she’d answer, I’d repeat what she said into the tape recorder. Imagine Modanna doing that? No way—she’d hang up on me! Well, for that patience and kindness, I tip my hat and cup to Queen Ida! I would also like to thank her manager Mark Ullman for setting up the interview and thank Cathy Lemons, my partner, for typing/editing the interview. Ace: Ida, let’s start at the beginning—where were you born? Queen Ida: Lake Charles, Louisiana, January 15th, 1929--Capricorn Ace: When did you know you wanted to be a musician? Queen Ida: Well, I didn’t find out, actually, until I was sort’a pulled into the business---and that was in 1975. Ace: Who were some of the musicians and singers that influenced you the most? Queen Ida: Definitely Clifton Chenier, My uncles, Lewis and Morris, and many of the accordion players—and this is far away removed from Cajun music--but Credence Clearwater when they did “Bad Moon Rising” Ace: Ida, that’s hilarious! But if you dig it, you dug it! Wow! Queen Ida: Also Lodi, their instrumentation sounded a lot like back woods music. Ace: Why do you choose to live in the Bay Area instead of Louisiana, where you would think there would be more of a Zydeco music scene for you? Queen Ida: I was livin’ out here when I got into the music business. I was brought up on a farm in Louisiana, but I did not want to return to that kind of living. Ace: I can dig that, Ida. Is there any more you’d like to add to that? Queen Ida: Out here in the Bay Area, people were not accepting accordion music or Zydeco--or out there in Louisiana—the music scene was more social. At that time Clifton Chenier was the only one recording and playing that type of music. Ace: How about Bozo Chavez? Queen Ida: Well, he was in the 1950’s. Ace: If the Bay Area and Louisiana scenes were not accepting of accordion players, when and how did your career take off? Queen Ida: It was in 1975, I was sitting in at a church function, a Mardi Gras celebration, and the people that were promoting the function asked if me if I would sit in and perform a few songs. At first, of course, (laughing) I said “No!” But my brother Al and my husband Ray encouraged me to get up there. When I was coming up on a farm, women did not play accordions. And that was why I was reluctant to sit in and play a few songs. What happened from that point on is this: there was a free lance writer, Peter Levine, well, he was there taking pictures, and he wrote about it and sold it to the San Francisco Chronicle. It came out as an insert in the “California Living” magazine—and that’s when people started calling. I didn’t have a band. I probably knew only about 6 or 7 songs that I felt comfortable playing with a band, but my brother Al said “Let’s get this together and bring the music to the people!” And we did. Ace: Can you tell me more about your brother Al? Queen Ida: Al Rapone—he had a band—he was my younger brother—and Al had been playing music since the age of 14. He asked me to come and sit in at some of his gigs—this was in 1975—to promote the music because it was so new to so many people. Later, when we worked and recorded together, Al did all the arranging, and Al wrote most of the lyrics because he translated the words from French to English. Ace: Can you tell me more about your uncles, Lewis and Morris, and their influences? Queen Ida: When I was a kid, my uncles Lewis and Morris played their accordions at family functions—but not professionally. Ace: What was it like being a woman in the music business—whether that be in Louisiana or in the Bay Area Queen Ida: At first I was scared stiff. I was wondering if the men were going to accept me as a musician—as one of them. To my surprise they were very helpful—all of them, including Clifton Chenier. Ace: Did you want to ad anything else about Clifton Chenier? Queen Ida: I was motivated by Clifton Chenier, watching him play, and also him helping me and encouraging me to continue to play in the beginning. Also Doug Kershaw, the Cajun fiddler, was very helpful to me. He told me “Don’t quit! Keep it up!” Ace: Did you do the business in the beginning? Queen Ida: My brother Al did most of it. We recorded our first album in 1976 on the “GNP Crescendo” label. And from that time on I have recorded ten more. I also recorded one with just Al and me. Ace: Do you still have some family members in your band? Queen Ida: Oh yes, I have two sons, Merrick on accordion, and Ronald is on the rub board/ washboard. Ace: That’s great Ida to travel with your family. Queen Ida: Oh ya! Ace: Will you be doing a lot of traveling this spring and summer with your band? Queen Ida: Not so much, as my husband has been down and he needs someone all the time with him. Ace: Ida, may I ask you how many years you have been with your husband--and what’s his name? Queen Ida: My husband’s name is Raymond Gillory. And I have been married to Ray (Raymond) for fifty years. Ace: God bless you Ida and him. Do you want to tell the people about your newest CD? Queen Ida: My newest CD was done with my brother Al in 1999 and it’s titled “Back on the Bayou”. Ace: And they can get it at any good record store? Queen Ida: Oh yes! Ace: Ida, I know you have one or two really good Cajun cookbooks! The readers of Big City Blues really love to eat good food. I men they can pack! Can they get the books? Queen Ida: The books are out of print now—there were two printings. Ace: Well, that’s a shame. Queen Ida: They can try to get them on the Internet. Ace: What’s one of your favorite dishes that you like to make? Queen Ida: Jambalaya! Ace: Wow, I bet that would be just juicy! Ida, once a year Big City Blues has their whole magazine dedicated to musician’s favorite recipes and desserts. When that issue is getting ready, could you send in your Jambalaya recipe? Queen Ida: Sure! Ace: That would be great! Queen Ida: Most of the Creole cooking takes a lot of time and TLC—tender loving care. Ace: Oh ya! I agree wholeheartedly. Queen Ida: Ida, can you tell me what Zydeco means to you? Ace: Zydeco means to me keeping up the culture. And it’s such a lively music that it makes people want to dance and keep them happy. And to me that’s what Zydeco is. Queen Ida: Well Ida, I think that’s well said. Ace: So far in your career, what has been one of your most cherished moments? Queen Ida: When I got my Grammy in 1983, for my CD “On Tour.” I also loved doing “Saturday Night Live,” “Austin City Limits,” also a small acting part in the movie “Rumble Fish.” This was all in the 1980’s. But I must say I’ve had a lot of great moments: I have traveled the world over, to Sidney Australia, Japan, West Africa, New Zealand—everywhere! I won a W.C. Handy award for Best “Tradition Female Blues Artist” (1988—1989), and I must say I am very pleased and very proud of all that. Ace: Where in America do you like to play the most? Queen Ida: Denver is one area, Arizona is another area--we have been going to Denver for 18 years now. But really we like to play everywhere. Ace: I think that covers most everything—so I’m going to put the cap on it. Is there anything you’d like to add to this interview—anything you’d like to say to your old fans or new fans? Queen Ida: Go out and get the CD, I promise you’ll enjoy it! And go out and dance and have a ball! Ace: Well Ida, thanks for the interview and continued success for you! Stay healthy and well and the best to you and your family—keep playing that great music! MORE NFORMATION ON QUEEN IDA CAN BE FOUND ON HER WEBSITE: http://www.tradarts.com FOR BOOKING INFORMATION CONACT JOHN ULLMAN AT TRADITIONAL ARTS SERVICES: (206) 367-9044 OR EMAIL HIM AT jsu@tradarts.com JOHNNY ACE CAN BE REACHED AT jacerno@prodigy.net OR THROUGH HIS WEB SITE: http://www.lemonsace.com