At the ripe old age of 27 Ruben Moreno is a veteran of the musical road, having begun playing professionally at age 13, and hitting the road at age 15, playing Rubboard with some of Zydeco’s greatest performers such as CJ Chennier, Leroy Thomas and Andre Thierry.

Drawing on his rich musical roots, he captures both the Louisiana and the Texas Zydeco sound, and brings a fresh new energy and vision to the Creole Zydeco he loves.

For Moreno, though, it’s about more than just the music. He sees his career as a tool for making the world better, admiring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bob Marley for using their talents to enable and encourage change.

But he doesn’t let the heavy things get in the way of Zydeco’s natural ability to make you feel good. His 2011 debut Por Ti Volare is full of upbeat, syncopated rhythm and his own soulful voice, with universal themes of love and heartbreak.