Andre Thierry

Andre Thierry is an American Zydeco musician. He leads the band Andre Thierry Accordion Soul Music. Andre was born in Richmond, California, on July 9, 1979, to Olivia "Tee" Guillory, originally from Basile, Louisiana, and Gregory Thierry, originally from Jennings, Louisiana. Andre Thierry's childhood was deeply influenced by his maternal grandparents, the late Houston Pete Pitre (Pa-Pa as they called him) from Basile, Louisiana, and his grandmother, known by many as Mama Lena Pitre, from Soileau, Louisiana.

In America, great migrations produce great music. Just as Delta musicians took Highway 61 to Chicago and electrified their blues, so did the Creoles and Cajuns migrate to California and establish vital dance communities. Now the California scenes rival anything back home in Louisiana, and that's due to players like Andre Thierry, a standard bearer for the new generation.

Thierry is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, and he combines youthful vigor with a mature appreciation for his inherited tradition. Thierry grew up experiencing the French Creole (La-La) dances his grandparents held at their church parish, St. Mark's Catholic Church. The best Zydeco musicians Louisiana had to offer traveled to California to play at the dances and spent considerable time at the Pitres' house while in the area.

On one such visit, the "King of Zydeco," Clifton Chenier, grabbed three-year-old Andre by the arms and deemed him a future accordion player. From then on, Andre's father encouraged the young Andre to play the accordion.