MOJO Rave Reviews page

Meet
MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies

2009 JPF Awards Nominees!
Best Cajun Album: "MOJO's In Town!"
Best Cajun Song: "Gonna Take You to the Country!"

MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies are powerfully talented musicians and entertainers who immerse the audience into all original Cajun and Zydeco music and dancing in the Southwest Louisiana tradition. No one will be able to sit still, and everyone will remember MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies forever.

MOJO’s truly unique musical adventure literally delivers lifetime memories. MOJO music is infectiously happy, and all ages go nuts - to put it simply. MOJO shows are wild, but totally natural and positive, appealing to EVERYONE in all walks of life- Boomers, kids, teens, and even seniors.

MOJO (Accordion and Vocals)

Meet Mister MOJO

(See, also, MOJO's 2007 Chicago Tribune Interview,
"Up Close and Personal", below!)

Mister Mojo, star of the MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies, has performed for more than 40 years, across America, in Canada and Europe, and from the way he moves, it's obvious he's still excited about what he's doing. Mojo is the vocalist, accordion player, songwriter, and father figure for The Bayou Gypsies. Internationally known for his work, Mojo is a truly charismatic performer.

Mojo’s companies include MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies(sm) and JLM Success Management(sm).

As an artist, Mojo has written hundreds of original songs recorded on more than a dozen MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies’ albums.

As a music historian, Mojo got the Frottoir - the Zydeco Rubboard - inducted into the Smithsonian Institution. Mojo is also involved in Historic Preservation efforts to preserve the legacy of Mervine Kahn (Rayne, LA), the man credited with being the source of accordions for the original Cajun and Creole accordion masters.

As a music educator, MOJO has a strong commitment to Arts Outreach to children (approaching 300,000 children) and underserved communities, and has mentored many artists to develop their careers and business.

MOJO’s work to benefit children is legendary. As a Touring Performance Artist and Artist in Residence, Mojo and his band deliver performances each year to inner-city, underprivileged and handicapped children. Their work continues to the college level where they perform, mentor and provide master classes. Mojo’s working tools embrace the philosophy that “no man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.”

As a NARAS member Mojo was active in efforts to establish a new “Cajun/Zydeco Grammy Category”. Mojo was also an Exemplar in crafting NARAS’ new Voting Membership requirements, implemented in 2007, acknowledging digital sales and new distribution technologies.

Mister MOJO was an APAP national scholar at the 2008 National Performing Arts Conference. He is actively involved in NPAC's mission to Promote, Educate and Diversify the Arts across America.

A portion of proceeds from every MOJO concert is donated to charity. MOJO’s performances have benefited Rotary International, Masonic charities, Shriners Hospital for Children, Public Action to Deliver Shelter, Prevent Child Abuse, Habitat for Humanity, Masonic Childrens Home, IL Foundation to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Drug Treatment Facilities, Masonic Hospital, American Cancer Society, Urban Gateways Arts Outreach, Hurricane Relief, Tipitina's Fund, Preservation Hall Fund, Hospice of Acadiana, YMCA, Churches, Scholarship funds, and many more!

Mojo has worked tirelessly to enhance the music industry, life for musicians and their families, and to use the Arts to enhance the lives of people everywhere.

Zydeco T Carrier, Frottoir (Rubboard)

Zydeco T Carrier is a legend known for her skill as a player of the Frottoir, and as a charming AND exciting performer. A native of Church Point, LA, Zydeco T is a French-speaking Creole from the famous Carrier family. Her brother is Roy Carrier, her nephew is Chubby Carrier. With her million dollar smile, Zydeco T is a pleasure to watch.

Greg "The Fire" Hirte, Fiddle

Mojo’s Fiddler, Greg Hirte, is an industry legend. Widely known for great solos, Greg is a classically trained violinist and actor who started playing violin at age four, and studied acting at the Piven Theatre workshop. In 2002, Greg was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson award for best original score. Greg came to MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies after performing with Billy Corgan, Nick Tremulus, Ronnie Specter, and Steve Earl. Greg’s performances are always a treat.

Tee John Moser, Drums

Tee John Moser, drummer for Mojo & The Bayou Gypsies, is a lifetime performer known for his fabulous ability. He is young, good looking, and plays like a monster. As a drummer/percussionist, John has performed and toured the United States, Canada and Europe. His high-energy playing has landed him over 30 full length CD debuts along with Radio jingles and TV spots on 3 major networks. His career as a professional started in the mid 90's, including tours and performances with Tito Puente, Blue Lou Marini (Blues Brothers), Clark Terry (Johnny Carson Show), Louie Bellson, and Tito Corillio. This young man is clearly an accomplished musician. What else can we say? Just watch him play!

Beau Brian Burke, Bass

Beau Brian Burke, on bass, is a great musician and a great sport. Playing amazing bass all night long, Beau Brian fills out Mojo's powerful rhythm section. With a Master's Degree in Jazz Bass Performance, Beau Brian has distinguished himself with a wide variety of touring and performances. He is a much sought after "John Paul Jones" actor/performer in Led Zeppelin tribute productions. Beau Brian is also the object of the Mojo Family's playful teasing, often in French between Mojo and Zydeco T. You see, Beau Brian is the youngest at 23, and the whole crowd joins in every time to say, "He's REALLY young."

Rich "Tex" Stitzel, Drums & Percussion

Rich "Tex" Stitzel, drummer and percussionist with MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies, comes from the great Texas Percussion tradition and from a long line of famous Texas musicians and music educators! Tex is a monster player! He began his career at the University of North Texas, and now tours with legendary performers and can be heard on dozens of recordings (albums, jingles & industrial films) playing jazz, pop, country, latin and beyond. He has played with Mary Wilson & The Supremes, Brad Thompson (Texas Singer/Songwriter), Bertha Coolidge (acid-jazz), Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan), Christian Howes (Les Paul Trio), Keith Carlock (Steely Dan), Cornelius Bumpus (Steely Dan & Doobie Brothers), Andy Timmons (Olivia Newton John), The Jim Widner Big Band, The Texas All-Star Big Band, and many, many others.

The Songs

The songs you'll hear from MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies are all Mojo originals, from the shuffle "Louisiana Saturday Night," to the waltz, "Cypremort Point," to the funky spooky "Madame Magique." They're all different, they're all fun, and they all bring the spicy taste of Louisiana Bayou country to wherever Mojo performs.

MOJO's 2007 Chicago Tribune Interview

UP CLOSE, AND PERSONAL
WITH MISTER MOJO
A man, his music, his life.
Special to The Chicago Tribune
April 12, 2007

How did you get the moniker of Mojo? A “mojo” is a good luck charm, usually a love charm, in New Orleans culture. I’ve been a professional musician since I was eleven years old, and my drummer in the old days named me Mojo way back then! I’ve been Mojo ever since. I spend my life trying to make musical magic that makes people happy. Gotta live up to my name, right?! Even Momma called me Mojo!

How did your band Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies come about? MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies came about decades ago when we started playing the music of our Louisiana house parties on stage. I got the idea that we could have our house parties right on the stage, and share the whole experience with audiences around the world!

Where is the most interesting place you have performed? Well, in more than forty years of performing, there have been many interesting, wonderful, and memorable places I’ve played. In the U.S., we love performing in restored Opera Houses and Vaudeville Houses; these theaters are magical. In Europe, I have to say our performance on Ameland, an island off the northern coast of Holland, was spectacular. In Canada, it was great to perform in front of Parliament.

But the most rewarding shows of all are part of our outreach to children: one in particular, Blair Early Childhood Center, up in Chicago, is a lifetime memory. We play at Blair every year for profoundly challenged children with devastating physical, medical and emotional challenges, who we have grown to love. At our first concert many years ago, the principal told me the educators were not sure all the kids could see or hear; but we found out they could feel our music, smile brightly, and dance with their eyes! We love those kids.

Where are you performing lately? We perform all over the World. We will already have performed in multiple states (New York, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois) by the end of February! In the United States, we perform in amazingly beautiful theaters and Performing Arts Centers, and it looks like we will be performing at some wonderful events in Europe this summer. We’d love to share a MOJO experience with more communities. To help communities experience what we do, the IAC will fund up to 35 percent of our performance fee! We always donate a concert or workshop for underprivileged kids in whatever city we are performing our evening concerts in.

What is the title of your most recent CD and how does it compare to your others?   Our most recent album, “Better Get Ready... MOJO’s In Town!”, is our ninth live album of all original Red Hot MOJO Music. Each album is a continuation of life with MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies! Our music reflects the Louisiana Zydeco tradition; the new album supports dancing all night with each song having a different beat including Zydeco, Cajun, and New Orleans two-steps, rock & roll, and blues rhythms. My songs are about family, friends, dancing, partying, Louisiana’s places, people and culture. We only perform all original music, and all our albums are recorded live with one take. What you hear is what you get live; that’s my philosophy for all our albums. “Better Get Ready... MOJO’s In Town!” continues that tradition.

Where does your musical talent come from? My family and culture are responsible for my musical talent and career. My family got together every week when I was a kid. We shared love, family meals, good and bad times in the days when Television was new and rare. We children provided the evening’s entertainment in those days by singing, dancing, acting, telling jokes, playing musical instruments.

I remember my first performance, at my Auntie Hilda’s house, when I was 2.5 years old. I decided to do an Elvis Presley impersonation, and sing “Hound Dog”. I remember Momma brought my little sport coat and my saddle shoes coz they were cool! I remember digging on my hands and knees through Auntie Hilda’s kitchen cabinets to find her big old iron skillet that served as my guitar. I remember the reaction of my family, hooting, hollering, clapping. I remember to this day how good I felt performing, and I’ve enjoyed that feeling my whole life!

What inspires you in your songwriting? I’m a storyteller. I tell stories about Momma and Daddy, about my kids, about my friends, about events in our lives, about the good things in life that money just cannot buy. And I love to dance, have fun and share fun. I love to enhance lives, expand experiences, enrich communities, make audiences happy, and give memories to enjoy for the rest of their lives. Here’s my artistic vision: “Just as the fingertip can conceal the World’s greatest mountain from the eye, so can the rigors of daily life conceal the greatest riches of the human essence. My job is to move the finger!”

What are some of your hobbies and interests? Enhancing the lives of children is a passion for me. Mentoring and nurturing young musicians, performers and artists are a big part of my life. I’m very active in charities, particularly as a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. MOJO & The Bayou Gypsies raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in Hurricane Relief through concerts. We perform in inner-city schools, and we nurture our own families. Momma and Daddy always taught me that charity begins at home. Some kids don’t have families or homes, so we try to expand our world to help others feel the love of family and home. Every show shares those feelings and lessons with the audience.

I'm a historian, too, I guess. My best friend, Tee Don Landry, of Sunset, LA, makes Zydeco Rubboards (Frottoirs) in the tradition of his daddy who made the first Zydeco Rubboard for Clifton Chenier, the King of Zydeco. Tee Don and I got the Zydeco Rubboard inducted into the Smithsonian as an icon of American music and culture. I am very proud of this success.

I've been active in NARAS, the Grammy organization, and was able to help implement the new rules for voting membership. NARAS now recognizes independent record labels, distribution and sales, including digital sales. I'm proud of this success, too.

Have you ever had another profession other than music?   Daddy never got to go to school, so he insisted my brothers and I all get a good education. I tried a day job, but it doesn't work for me. Music is my only profession, and I haven't done anything else for a long time. I couldn’t be successful without my education, though. I always ask kids, “You know what you can do with an education?” They guess, and then I tell them, “You can do anything you want!” I'm doing what I want!

How did you get involved with the various charities you support?   Daddy and Momma taught me to give back to your family, friends, and community, to always help others if you can. I believe in the philosophy that "Faith may be lost in sight; Hope ends in fruition; but Charity extends beyond the grave." Momma always said, "Charity begins at home".

I used to travel around with Daddy as he would help folks. He was a Mason and Shriner. I remember the down-and-out fellows he gave jobs to and taught his trade to. I remember visiting state hospitals with Daddy to bring joy to abandoned souls. I remember Daddy making furniture for folks who had nothing. I remember Daddy’s friends were blue collar guys, professionals, politicians, gangsters, sports heroes, famous fellows and total down-and-outers. Daddy had five Points of Life: Love, Respect, Discipline, Common Sense, and Togetherness. I immortalized his philosophy in a song called “Grandpa Mojo Blues”. Everyone was Daddy’s friend.

I remember watching Momma make things to raise funds for charities, taking care of friends or family when they were down or ill, or taking family members into our house so they could sort their lives out or just grow. My uncle was a hero in World War II. Momma and Daddy took him in to heal his shell shock and help him rebuild his life. I watched my aunts and uncles do the same. And I always remember Momma telling me, “Son, even the lowest bum in the gutter was once somebody’s brand new, beautiful, baby boy.” I’ve honored her lesson all my life.

How do you feel about the progress being made since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?   I’m very thankful that all my friends are recovering well. Many lost their jobs, but most have been able to save their homes. Most are recovering by their own strength and initiative.

I’m incredibly proud of the people of America; so many have given of themselves to help others. I’m totally disappointed by our government’s response to the Hurricanes. A lot of people died needlessly. A lot of folks need help now, but can’t get it. There are a lot of leaders who should be ashamed. America deserves better leadership.

Much of New Orleans retains its delightful soul. After all, as my buddy Keith Hurtt, New Orleans Public Defender, says, "The whole world tries to create Ambiance; New Orleans IS Ambiance." The French Quarter is pretty much back to itself, but tourism is way down. We need to build it back up. I encourage folks to visit, and enjoy the joi du vivre New Orleans has to offer.

Southwest Louisiana (Cajun and Creole Country) is healthy and doing their thing even better than before. I encourage everyone to experience Bayou Country, its food, music, culture, events, scenery, wildlife, architecture, and fabulous Life! As they say, "Come to Louisiana as you are... leave different!

Website by JLM Success.
All content copyright by Mojo.
Photos by Steve Harman Photography, Franklin, TN
MOJO's accordion built by Larry Miller, Iota, LA