Roland Guerin Stands On The Edge Of A New Time In New Song “Hickery Dickery” – OffBeat Magazine

New Orleans singer / songwriter / producer / bass wunderkind Roland Guerin reminds us in his new single produced in quarantine “Hickery Dickery” [Louisiana Red Hot Records] that “With nothing said, we’ll be blin-dead” if time runs out.

Guerin’s musical and songwriting chops were honed in his years touring with the legendary Allen Toussaint, who gave his longtime bass player the lyrics to “Stick to the Basics” after hearing his riffs for the song.

The Toussaint-penned track was part of Guerin’s critically acclaimed album “Grass Roots” celebrated at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in a February record release party, before Coronavirus shut down the music industry.

In addition to being in Toussaint’s band, Guerin was the bass player and music director for the legendary Dr. John, touring with him internationally for years. Of their inspiration, Guerin says: “Allen Toussaint and Dr John always wrote about
inspired truthful things and instances.

A year ago, an older gentleman told me that when he was growing up, he and his peers looked to the musicians to find direction in what was happening in the world, and looked to them for inspiration… he then looked me straight in my eyes and asked: “What are
you gonna do?”

I responded, “It may not be as widely known, but I’m doing it.” Guerin comes by his songwriting naturally, his Creole grandfather was a zydeco musician who wrote a song popularized by Boozoo Chavis: “Paper in My Shoe” — the hit that put zydeco music on the map. Roland’s mother also played bass, his father sang and his uncles were musicians.

“Hickery Dickery” is his warning and glimmer of hope for our turbulent times, in the best tradition of songwriters who reflect back what’s happening in the world, and offer a roadmap out if we listen to our hearts.