Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Boozoo Chavis, John Delafose and I'd watch the crowd. After a year of practice and gaining proficiency on the accordion, Espre and his wife Michelle (AKA Shelly) began to study the styles of the successful groups on the zydeco circuit. During his recuperation, as part of his therapy he began playing his father's button accordion. 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.

He was also known to write poetry, and preach about respecting nature. He was a long time resident of Kinder, Louisiana. He spent nine years in the military, then came home to work as an electrician and welder.

Espre had his first near-death experience while in the Air Force, when an explosion left him in the hospital with amnesia. He once escorted Henry Kissinger around Europe. He enlisted in the Air Force after high school, and eventually made it to the rank of sergeant, had a top security clearance and was stationed in London and Germany. Andrus played guitar in a high school band but his influences were not zydeco musicians but rather acts such as War, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and Santana. His father (nicknamed 'Tee Toe') was a well-respected accordion player who performed at many local dances, but who quit playing music when Andrus' older brother was born. Beau Jocque was born Andrus Espre in Duralde, Louisiana to Sandrus and Vernice (née Allen) Espre.

Git it beau jocque