In his raucous “Soul Alive!” album, singer, bishop, mortician, limousine driver, drugstore owner, backstage barbecue vendor and father of 21 Solomon Burke testified, “The answer in life is love and understanding.”
The soul-singing minister continued, “I don’t want nobody to give me flowers when I’m dead and gone. Give me my flowers while I’m living. So I can feel ‘em, smell ‘em, see ‘em.”
I thought about Burke’s words after hearing fateful news of Lee Allen Zeno of Lafayette. Zeno is a sideman, a musician who makes the stars sound great but rarely gets the spotlight. Zeno and his remarkable bass guitar skills helped Buckwheat Zydeco become a Grammy winner and the only zydeco band to win an Emmy.
Zeno is all over “New Beginnings,” the debut album and Grammy winner for Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.
Since 1980, Zeno has song credits on at least 73 albums, singles, EPs and videos. They include works by Burke, Charlie Rich, Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush, Boozoo Chavis and the Neville Brothers.
Zeno’s bass fuels “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,” which won the Best Regional Roots Album Grammy earlier this month.
Just a few weeks after that joyous Grammy news came Zeno’s troubling announcement. After fighting cancer throughout his music career, Zeno decided he’s had enough. He’s ending chemotherapy.
According to longtime friend and supporter John Williams, Zeno’s cancer count after his latest round of chemo showed his leukemia is getting worse. Williams said on social media that Zeno will now “focus on staying healthy and receiving blood transfusions as needed, in order to have more vibrant time with his family and playing his music.”
Williams has been on a mission to help unsung music heroes and forgotten legends. Through the years, many musicians struggled in their final days. Families had to hold “benefit dances” to bury them.
Love of People, Williams’ nonprofit organization, has helped senior musicians with medical bills, home repairs and other financial and health challenges. Funding has come through the “Blue Monday Concert Series,” a blues jam which celebrated its 10th anniversary Feb. 9 at the Ruins Lounge in Lafayette.
Williams went the extra mile — literally — in Zeno’s latest cancer bout. He transported Zeno to treatments in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and beyond, before suffering a serious flare-up of diverticulitis. Williams said he will now “lean on all the angels” that have been part of Zeno’s fight.
I hope Zeno accepts this bouquet of gratitude for a life of award-winning music in the shadows of the stars. As your friend Solomon Burke said, feel, smell, see and enjoy the flowers.
I hope you’re moved to celebrate a Lee Allen Zeno in your life with a handshake, hug or a few dollars. It’s the least we can do for artists who create in the shadows, yet still bring sunshine to our lives.
Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.theadvocate.com ’
