The Big Easy in Buffalo
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
In the late 1960s, Monk Boudreaux joined the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indian group. Since then Monk has become the single most recognizable Mardi Gras Indian, and has been the go-to musician when any artist wants to capture the unique music and culture of the Indians.
In 1970, Boudreaux appeared with the Wild Magnolias at the very first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and also in the same year, the group released the single "Handa Wanda" on Crescent City Records, the first studio recorded music by the Mardi Gras Indians. In 1974, he appeared with the Wild Magnolias on their debut album on Barclay/Polydor Records which featured Snooks Eaglin and Willie Tee in the supporting musicians. Boudreaux is exclusively featured on Golden Eagles' album Lightning and Thunder, a live recording released in 1988 on Rounder Records.
After being with the Wild Magnolias for over 30 years, Boudreaux left the group in 2001. Since then he has performed and recorded with artists such as Anders Osborne, Galactic and Papa Mali aside from the Golden Eagles. In the recent years, he has also participated in the recording and tour of the Voice of the Wetlands All-stars, a band that also featured Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, and Dr. John among others. He is also featured on one track in the New Orleans Social Club's album Sing Me Back Home released in 2006.
Listen to Big Chief Monk Boudreaux: http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/showoneprod.asp?ProductID=2882
Band website: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=130030070