Lil’ Buck Sinegal’s funeral is Monday June 17 at 11 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Surrey Street in Lafayette. Syrie Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
The visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Immaculate Heart. The Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday starting at 7 a.m. with the funeral following at 11 a.m.
The music world is mourning the loss of Paul Alton Senegal aka “Lil Buck. ” His death was reported on Monday June 10. He was 75 years old. He was born and raised on St Charles Street in Lafayette, Louisiana and played music all over the world. Like his mother, Odetta Broussard, Lil Buck played guitar. He got his start as a musician in the 50’s performing with Joe Tex, Carol Fran, Lee Dorsey any many others throughout his 60-year career. Lil Buck toured all over the world after joining Clifton Chenier’s band in 1969. In the 1980s and 1990s, he also worked with Buckwheat Zydeco and Rockin’ Dopsie.
In 1999, he released the album The Buck Starts Here. When asked about his music he said “I am probably more known as a zydeco guitarist but I’ve always been a blues man… Zydeco is the blues. It’s basically blues played with accordion”. Lil Buck also appears in the 2015 documentary film I Am the Blues. He was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 1999 and was recognized with a lifetime achievement award in the ICON Arts and Cultural Awards earlier this year.
Every time I saw Lil Buck it was a memorable performance. I knew he was one of the greatest of all time. His appeal transcended music. He was loved by people of all races all over the world. May he rest in peace.