Ben Sandmel is the author of Zydeco!, a collaborative book with
photographer Rick Olivier. Published in 1999 by the University Press of Mississippi, Zydeco! is Sandmel's first full-length book; he
is also the author of the Michelin travel guide New Orleans In Your Pocket,
and has written chapters for several other works on music and travel. In
addition, Sandmel has written the liner notes for some 100 albums, covering
such genres as New Orleans brass-band jazz, Cajun and zydeco, blues, rock,
country and bluegrass, and Gospel. Highlights among these include the
Elektra/Nonesuch American Explorer Series, and Clifton Chenier's
Grammy-winning I'm Here. Sandmel writes prolifically about music and
travel for numerous magazines and newspapers, including Rolling Stone, Down
Beat, Esquire, the Atlantic Monthly, The Oxford American, MOJO, and many
others. Sandmel's résumé as a drummer includes stints with blues artists
Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Johnson, and Boogie Bill Webb; he produced and played
on Webb's first and only full album, Drinkin' and Stinkin'. Sandmel
currently plays with the Hackberry Ramblers, a Cajun and western swing band
that has been together continuously since 1933, and still features the two
original founding members. He produced and played on the group's
Grammy-nominated album Deep Water, and released it on his own label,
Hot Biscuits. Sandmel also works as folklorist for the state of Louisiana,
and is
a programming consultant for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Photo of Ben Sandmel copyright © 1999 Rick Olivier.
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