The BluesBox Bayou Band

"Rock a' Bayou" includes eleven studio cuts and a bonus live cut... Rock a' Bayou takes you to "the" party on the bayou with new original songs as "Down the Zydeco Road", "Acadian Sky (waltz)", "Everyday Feels Like Sunday" and "This Dawg is Cryin'" to great bayou standards as "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You" and their version of Orbison's classic "Blue Bayou"... all soon to be BluesBox dance-concert favorites. Also a bonus track recorded at The Eagles Hall, Modesto is the exciting live version of Scott Baker's "Allons Dancer le Mardi Gras" featuring Rudy Knight on drums! Check out our upcoming schedule and pick up your very own signed copy at one of CD Release Party events throughout the summer season!

Iselton Crawdad Festival, June 14-16 2002 Entertainment Re-Cap!

Blues Box Bayou Band: P.D. Grimaldi takes this band down a Traditional and Zydeco road that just sets folks on fire. This band hails from the central valley of California and has been treating folks to great music for a number of years. Pete has seeded the band with two new folks Julie on Bass and Scott on Guitar and this five piece show band is a delight. This band was chosen to open the festival and perform the fais do do on Friday night (1 of 3 gigs total). I missed them while I was at Balfa Camp this past April , as they were in Lafayette making music and having a grand time in the mother land of Cajun/Creole & Zydeco. Pete has written some material that sends me ... although I am not excitable about new material , the sounds of Blues Box and the lyrics are super audio delights that defines memories. Among the finest drummers in the business Rudy Knight is forever captivating us with his ear to ear smile and vibrant in the pocket tempo... I gauge this band to be among California's great contributions to the genre. 5 yrs. at Isleton and returning for 2004.

David Mason, Music Director Isleton Crawdad Festival

CD Review: The Blues Box Bayou Band, "Big Fun" - August / September 2002

California's "Mother-Lode" area, near Sonora, is the home base of the popular Blues Box Bayou Band. Their music is not hard core zydeco -- but it is zydeco never the less -- of a much more light-hearted variety. Pete Grimaldi established the band about five years ago as a three-piece "roadhouse" band playing a blues/Tex-Mex/zydeco mix. This was the first band in the area to use an accordion. The zydeco material became very popular, so Grimaldi decided to make it a complete zydeco band. As fate would have it, the Gold Country Cajun Band disbanded about a year ago, and two of its members joined the Blues Box -- Scott Baker on vocals and guitar and Julie Johnson on bass. The band was rounded out by scrub board player Lil' Jimmy H (former Sonora mayor, Jim Hildreth) who has a strong link with Louisiana, having a second home in Opelousas.

First of all, this music is "good listening" as well as good for dancing. Included are several popular standards like -- "Madeline" "My Toot Toot," "Mardi Gras in New Orleans," and "Jambalaya." I especially like the four original songs. Scott's "Angeline" has a nice melody and an easy groove, and it's done in French. Pete's "Belle de Lafayette" and "Vive Louisianne" take you right into Acadiana. Sadly, there are no waltzes, but variety is added with a couple non-Louisiana tunes -- "Tequila Gold" and "Ballad of Sally Anne."

Dale Johnson, KVMR-FM, Host of "Bayou Country", Nevada City - Sacramento

Review for Gary Haymanπs ZydE-Zine Internet Magazine and

The California Friends of Louisiana French Music Association Newsletter

The Blues Box Bayou Band is the new Country Americana sound! Swamp beat boogie, cajun zydeco dance grooves and New Orleans style rhythm and blues. Historically, this band has been entertaining audiences and generally having a good time since 1996. Although it rose from humble beginnings, the group caught on quickly, entertaining their first spaghetti feed and playing for fish tacos to performing at the Isleton Crawdad Festival, Stevenot Big Easy Fest, the American Music Festival Brookings, OR, Gilroy Garlic Fest and the Ironstone Winery Cajun Fest. To date the Blues Box Bayou Band have released four CD recordings, "Rockin' Bayou Band", "Big Fun", Roadside Attraction, and their new release "Rock a'Bayou". Here's a little run down of The BluesBox Bayou Band lineup for 2007

- Pete (PD) Grimaldi - Accordion and Lead Vocals

PD Grimaldi is from Modesto, California, and has been active in live music for 30 years and is the original founder of The Blues Box Bayou Band. In the early 1990s, PD became actively involved with the American Roots revival, primarily Cajun/Zydeco music. He began by promoting "festival" music in the Modesto area with such luminaries as Buckwheat Zydeco, Queen Ida, Al Rapone, Thomas Big Hat Fields, Tom Rigney, Danny Poullard, The Zydeco Flames, and Flaco Jimenez. This up close and personal experience with this music, was the inspiration for PD to revive the accordion himself and create a "roots music" dance band to meet a growing demand. The Blues Box Bayou Band was formed in the fall of 1996 and has steadily grown more and more popular with audiences each passing festival season. PD Grimaldi's vocals and New Orleans style accordion supported by ongoing trips to the land of Louisiana, keeps the roots formula of the band stylistically unique and creative.

- Julie Johnson - Bass Guitar & Vocals

Strumming a beautiful Appalachian melody on the five string banjo, Julie Johnsonºs interest in roots music goes far beyond her bass playing talent. Classically trained on the guitar as a child, Julieºs love for music has never diminished. Ten years ago she formed her first all girl band, "The Gold Rush Balladeers" as guitarist and vocalist, performing throughout Northern California singing authentic songs from the Gold Rush era. The Balladeers continue to perform for concerts and historical events as well as public service for the Arts Reach to Schools Program in Tuolumne County, California. In 1999, Julie switched to the Cajun-red electric bass and joined the Gold Country Cajun Band. Playing traditional Cajun and Zydeco music. At the beginning of 2002 Julie joined the Blues Box Bayou Band. Julieºs bass style is simple, elegant and right on the money. She provides the authentic Zydeco lower end that is the heart and soul of the band. Julie is also a mountain resident of Sonora, California, and lives the style of a grass roots musician‰ instruments strewn everywhere.

The BluesBox is always a work in progress and new blood breathes new life this year as guitarist, Frank Grimaldi joins the band to contribute his talent and experience to the lineup!

- Frank Grimaldi - Lead Guitars

When it comes to playing the electric guitar there is none better in this area than Frank Grimaldi. Over 30 years of playing the instrument for some of the best roadhouse bands in the valley, places him on the local survival list of great working musicians in Northern California. He brings his artistic energy and smokin' flair for soloing to "little brothers" BluesBox Bayou Band. Some say it was long over due and some say it was just a matter of time, but Frank has stepped into the light, made peace with the accordion and brings his mighty guitar talent to the zydeco dance scene. He joins the BluesBox Bayou Band for their current season.

- Mike Farris - Drums

Mike brings 30 years of playing experience to the groups line up this year He has performed across the country with a long list of entertainers and recording projects. His interest and natural feel for New Orleans style beats he joined the group just this year to lay the foundation for The BluesBox Bayou Band.

- Jimmy Hildreth (Lil Jimmy) - Scrub-board and Percussions

The only way to describe Lil' Jimmy on the scrub-board is someone who is completely possessed! Jim fell in love with the Zydeco music and culture of Louisiana so much, that he is now a part time resident of the state. He loves to play and has sat in and "rubbed" with some the most famous Zydeco artists in the world! - Geno Delafose, Roy Carrier, Rosie Ladet the has played with them all, funny thing is they keep asking him back! Jim crosses the line between outright fun and outright fanatical, but it is our honor to have Lil' Jimmy H as The Blues Box featured scrub-board player.

Vicki - Put on your dancing shoes! This band is one of my all time favorites. They will make you want to dance the night away. You will have too much fun! Don't miss the opportunity to catch one of their gigs. You won't be disappointed!

Carol - Great Group!!! Alot of talent.

Jaime Tafoya - Performed at 3 fundraising events for me. Great band! Authentic, energetic, committed to their craft and they really get the crowd moving. BluesBox rocks!

Joyce Gardner - This is a great group, fun to dance to their music. Especially there original songs written by lead singer Pete Grimaldi

Jimmy V - Whole Lotta Fun!