Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal — Louisiana blues and zydeco guitarist

Musical style and characteristics

Sinegal's playing combined elements of swamp blues, electric R&B and the syncopated rhythms of zydeco. His instrumentals often showcased short, punchy guitar lines, driving backbeats and melodic hooks built for the dancefloor. As a vocalist and songwriter he favored straightforward phrasing and arrangements that supported dancers and festival crowds. His work illustrates how Louisiana musicians blended Creole and African American traditions into a popular, portable sound.

Career and notable recordings

In the late 1960s Sinegal recorded instrumental singles for the regional label La Louisiane, including the well-known tracks "Cat Scream" and "Monkey in a Sack." Those recordings captured his concise, rhythmic approach and received local play on jukeboxes and radio. During the 1980s and 1990s he toured internationally with leading zydeco acts such as Buckwheat Zydeco and with Rockin' Dopsie, serving both as a featured guitarist and as an ambassador of Louisiana grooves. He also led his own ensembles and later co-founded the Cowboy Stew Blues Revue with C.C. Adcock. In 1999 he released the album The Buck Starts Here, which collected originals and arrangements reflecting his decades of performance.

Context and influence

Born and raised in Lafayette, a city long noted for its Creole and Cajun musical heritage, Sinegal was part of a network of musicians who kept regional string and accordion traditions alive while integrating electric blues and R&B. His collaborations helped introduce zydeco and Louisiana blues to festival audiences outside the region and influenced younger players who sought to combine traditional grooves with contemporary band formats. He often performed both as a leader and as a supporting guitarist, demonstrating versatility across small club dates and larger festival stages.

Legacy

Sinegal remained a respected figure in Louisiana music circles for his lifetime of performance and recording. He died in June 2019 at his home in Lafayette after an illness, aged 75. His recorded instrumentals and work with touring zydeco bands are frequently cited when tracing how postwar Louisiana music adapted to electric instruments and national touring circuits. For additional context on the genres he worked in, see resources on blues and on the musical community of Lafayette, Louisiana.

Selected recordings and associations

• Singles on La Louisiane: "Cat Scream"; "Monkey in a Sack" — late 1960s.
• Album: The Buck Starts Here (1999).
• Toured and recorded with: Buckwheat Zydeco, Rockin' Dopsie; co-founded Cowboy Stew Blues Revue with C.C. Adcock.