working in an oil refinery after leaving the air force, espre experienced a work-related accident on september 4, 1987, which left him temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. during his recuperation, as part of his therapy he began playing his father's button accordion. after a year of practice and gaining proficiency on the accordion, espre and his wife michelle began to study the styles of the successful groups on the zydeco circuit. "we checked out c. j. chenier, buckwheat zydeco, boozoo chavis, john delafose and i'd watch the crowd. when they got real excited, i'd try to feel what was happening at that point. was it the rhythm guitar? the drums? the accordion style? i realized that when you get the whole thing just right, it's going to move the crowd."