I had a very dear friend who passed away unexpectedly back in 2000 -- Warren Ceasar -- a Creole musician who played trumpet for Clifton and also fronted his own band, The Creole Zydeco Snap. Back in 1993, I was already doing my zydeco radio show, and I told Warren that I started to learn zydeco accordion and wanted to start my own band here in Dallas, but thought it was a silly notion since I *wasn't* from Louisiana and I *wasn't* black. He looked at me and smiled, patted my chest over my heart and said, "Jack... it ain't where ya from... it's where ya AT! Hey man, you ARE my blue-eyed soul brother."

That meant a lot to me and has been a source of my inspiration. I'll never forget those words nor the gumbo he taught me to cook!

People always ask me where in Louisiana am I from. I tell them I'm not from [there] but I'm getting [there] as fast as I can. There's a lot of truth to that -- every chance I get, I head to Louisiana. My fiance is from Lake Charles and we're tying the knot this June in Calcasieu Parish. There's no question we will move there eventually. That will never make me a Cajun or Creole, but it will put me in the region where I can enjoy the source-spring of my inspiration. And THAT'S where it's AT!

R!CK
(Foreigner... hot blooded... check it and see)