Lagniappe

The Rest of the band bios

Dick Franz

Dick is a Cincinnati native, living in New Richmond, who began playing accordion when he was a kid. While at University of Cincinnati, Dick played rhythm guitar with The UC Concert Jazz Band. He began his professional musical career in 1971, when he played accordion with The Hilites, staying with them for 10 years. He then took time off to be a daddy and started with the Jack Frost Accordion Band in 1995. Chico called Dick looking for an accordion player and so he’s been with the band since 1998.

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John Mooter

John Mooter (trombone, cornet, slide trumpet, keyboards) is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music, and received a Masters in Music degree with honors from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He taught music for 35 years, and had his own band, "Blue Tater" for 25 years. He has also performed with the Blue Wisp Big Band, the Johnny Mack Super Big Band, the Queen City Big Band, the Avenues, and artists such as the Drifters, Otis Williams and the Charms, the Vogues, and others. He especially enjoys playing with Lagniappe due to the happy mood and feel of the music from New Orleans, and the wonderful musicians who make up the group.


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Jessie Berne

Jessie is a transplanted New Jerseyan who grew up in Hamilton, Ohio. First starting on the accordion at age 6, with the influences of Clifton Chenier and her mother as fellow accordionist, she has yet to curb her insatiable habit of trying to master all instruments that peak her fancy.


After many years of studying to be a classically trained clarinetist, she hungered for something different and rediscovered her love of roots music by listening to her dad's bluegrass albums. She left undergrad picking on the mandolin, and ended graduate school with a fiddle in her hands! Since then, she is now seen playing electric bass and occasionally will sing a song or two. Not able to choose consistently a favorite instrument or genre of music, she has struggled to find just the right fit for her eccentric tastes.

Lagniappe has given her the chance to indulge in them all, with a buffet of musical flavors that shocks the senses.