Benjamin: The greatest
inspiration to me now in life is my wife. She's everything to me. She motivates
me to be the best at whatever I do. She pushes me, and for that I love her
soooo much. Before I get on stage, she always tells me, ‘I love you, Hun. Pull
the hell put of that accordion,’ with a big smile, and—I smile back and tell
her, ‘Oh, bae, I will—lol! And my twin brother is my inspiration also, because
we been through a lot together. All we had was each other. Lol. It’s difficult
at times being a twin, but I love my brother. But coming up as a child, I
really didn't have inspiration—but my self. I was rascal. I wanted to be that
cool kid, even if it meant acting stupid at times. Now, music wise, I have good
friends that played Zydeco—or still play, like the great Jeffery Broussard,
very talent man. I listen to everything he says about Zydeco. I have a lot of
respect for him. I grew up on Zydeco Force when I was a kid. I use to go watch
him and the Broussard Brothers, along with Lil Pookie, under the tree. And they
would just play, be jamming. A good friend also, Lil Jeff Boutté—I started
jamming with him. And for family events or just to jam, he use to always tell
me u can play the hell out of that accordion all you want. But sing. You need to sing. I was very
shy to sing. He's actually the reason I sing, still, this day. He said, “Music
is what u feel. So play and sing how you feel.” He was a very good mentor for me
and my brother, on just learning how to control the band and being a band leader.
I thank him for those long talks just talking about music. Our bass player J'No
Soul Creole—he's a good inspiration to us as well, a very talented player on
accordion and bass. Before we perform, I always would go talk to him—or if I
just need advice. His words was, “Twin, man, do y'all thang with a smile. Y’all
got it.” I have a lot of respect for him, too. André Thierry is another
inspiration to me. I started playing the accordion my sophomore-junior year in
high school, and I taught my self. So I always use to hear things about him—‘Andre
Thierry the baddest man in the land with the accordion in his hand’. I would
always hear that, so I would go on YouTube and watch his videos. And he is a
great—excellent accordion player, and I want to play like him one day.
