In Memory of  Jim Boggio

If you’ve never been to Cotati before, you might not pay much attention to that statue on the Plaza.   During the Accordion Festival, there’s just too much going on. But that happy accordion player was one of the founders of the Festival and the leader of one of the most popular bands at the Festival, the Sonoma Swampdogs. He was also a friend of mine.  And whenever I pass through Cotati, even late at night, I have to pause at that statue and think about Jim Boggio, who passed away almost 10 years ago

I first met Jim around 1990 at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa.  He was playing in the piano lounge during the Happy Hour, and I didn’t even know he played the accordion.  He commanded the room, and almost every day the place would fill up with singers, horn players, jazz musicians, even fiddlers (that’s me). When we jammed on a couple Cajun tunes, he told me about his accordion and said he was thinking about putting a Cajun/Zydeco band together. I had played Cajun music with Queen Ida and with Al Rapone, and I’d been listening to some of the classic Zydeco accordion players, like Clifton Chenier, but I was totally unprepared for what Jim could do to the music. When we finally got together (along with guitarist Richie Blue and bassist Blair Hardman) I knew I was literally in the presence of genius. 

Of course, the rest is history. We did put together the Sonoma Swampdogs,  and Jim helped launch the Cotati Accordion Festival  But we also played casual winery gigs, under the name Gypsy Jazzers  It was a chance for Jim to stretch out with just a trio or quartet and explore jazz standards, Italian tunes, Gypsy tunes, even some original music.     In all of them, he was nothing less than brilliant. He inspired every musician around him to get out there, take chances, and, most important, to play with passion.  His playing didn’t just come from his fingers; his music came directly from the heart. 

Ironically, his heart could not keep up with his frantic pace. He suffered a fatal heart attack in November, 1996. He was only 56 years old. News of his death traveled far beyond Cotati, and accordion players from around the world offered their condolences. 

Bassist Blair Hardman led the campaign to build a statue honoring Jim Boggio.  He stands at the edge of the Plaza, not center stage any more, but you know he’s out there.  And there’s no telling how much we miss him.

David “Gus” Garelick