John Delafose

John Delafose
John Delafose playing the accordion, from some time in the 1980s
Background information
Birth name	John Irvin Delafose
Born	(1939-04-16)April 16, 1939 Duralde, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, US
Died	September 17, 1994(1994-09-17) (aged 55) Lawtell, Louisiana, US
Genres	Zydeco
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Accordion, vocals
Years active	1970s-1994
Labels	Arhoolie, Rounder, Maison de Soul
Associated acts	Joe Walker, Fernest Arceneaux, Geno Delafose

John Irvin Delafose (April 16, 1939 – September 17, 1994) was an American French-speaking Creole Zydeco accordionist from Louisiana.

Delafose was born in Duralde, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. As a child, Delafose fashioned fiddles and guitars out of old boards and cigar boxes fitted with window-screen wire. He eventually took up the harmonica, and at the age of 18 learned the button accordion. However, he soon turned to farming, and did not pursue music as a career until the early 1970s. He began serving as an accordionist and harpist with a variety of local Zydeco bands.

Delafose began his career playing in the fais do-do of his area, a Cajun dance party. Later he gained public recognition with albums like Joe Pete Got Two Women (Arhoolie) and Blues Stay Away from Me (Rounder). In the mid-1970s he formed the band The Eunice Playboys, with which he played until his death. The band continues under the direction of his son Geno Delafose.

John Delafose died in 1994.

Delafose had a dynamic style and strong rural roots, with a strong staccato rhythm on the accordion, which has influenced almost all current Zydeco musicians.