Monthly Archive for April, 2006

Cedric Watson Bio

Cedric Watson performs at the Blue Moon in Lafayette, La.Cedric on the web: Myspace
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Booking Cedric:
Eye For Talent

Bio:
One of the most noted young talents to emerge in Cajun or Creole music in the past few years, the twice GRAMMY-nominated Cedric Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of seemingly unlimited potential. Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in San Felipe, Texas surrounded by the sounds of blues, old soul, country and zydeco. Unlike his hip-hop focused peers, Cedric was drawn to the old-style French songs of Southwest Louisiana and the greater Houston area. He soon made his way to Lafayette, LA where he was enthusiastically accepted into the musical community and immediately recognized as an important participant in the continuity of Creole music.

Cedric has played with some of the great family names in Creole music, including Dexter Ardoin and the Creole Ramblers and Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys. With the Pine Leaf Boys, Cedric expanded his repertoire of Cajun songs while adding his Creole and zydeco foundation to the band’s true-to-the-roots Southwest Louisiana sound. He plays old La-La French music (traditional Creole music) in a trio of accordion, fiddle and guitar with his two musical godfathers, Edward Poullard and James Adams, in Les Amis Creole. With accordionist Corey “Lil’ Pop” Ledet, Cedric turns to the more blues and R&B influenced songs of Clifton Chenier, John Delafose, Canray Fontenot, and Bebe Carrier.

Now Cedric continues to explore the roots of Louisiana’s Creole music with his own band, Bijou Creole. Playing a variety of old-school zydeco styles, original material and Creole traditionals, the polyrhythmic and syncopated sounds of Africa and the Caribbean are unmistakable in this ensemble of talented musicians.

Cedric has been making a name for himself reviving the old Creole fiddling styles of Canray Fontenot and Bebe Carrier, injecting a healthy dose of his own personality and ingenuity, and bringing them to an ever-broadening audience. He has played across the United States as well as in France, Nova Scotia, Haiti and Spain, and would like next to go to West Africa and other parts of the French Caribbean. He has a keen interest in connecting Louisiana Creole music back to its homelands. “I want to present the Creole Nation of Louisiana to the Creole Nations in other parts of the world, to make these Creole cultures aware of the one in Louisiana, and vice versa.”

Cedric’s creative style and obvious joy in playing make him an engaging and exciting performer. Moving with ease between fiddle and accordion, his natural playfulness on stage makes him just plain fun to watch.

His soaring, soulful vocals, all in French, remind us of a time long ago. And his interest in reconnecting with the varied roots of the music in other parts of the world will make for an interesting ride. It will be nothing short of exciting to see what he does next.

Releases by or featuring Cedric Watson:
Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole:
L’ésprit Créole
Cedric Watson:
Eponymous Debut
Various Artists:
Allons Boire un Coup
Cedric Watson and Corey Ledet:
Goin’ Down to Louisiana

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Cajun Music Companion CD Announcement

Well, it’s been a long time coming. Ann Allen Savoy has agreed to work with us to create a CD containing much of the music and audio interviews that compile her “bible” of Cajun and Zydeco music history. First published by her own Bluebird Press in 1984, Ann’s book, Cajun Music, A Reflection of a People, Volume I, has long been regarded as the premier literary collection of the history of Cajun and Zydeco music and culture. Continue reading ‘Cajun Music Companion CD Announcement’

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Goin’ Down to Louisiana CD Release Party

Join us on Wednesday, April 26th, 2006, at the Blue Moon Saloon for the CD release party of Valcour Records debut project. The incredibly talented duo of Cedric Watson and Corey Ledet will be performing songs from their highly touted new album on the Valcour label, Going Down to Louisiana. We hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it, Cedric and Corey will be playing the following Sunday at Festival International from 4:00 to 4:30 PM.

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Corey “Lil’ Pop” Ledet Bio

(from www.coreyledet.com)
Corey “Lil Pop” Ledet has been setting local Zydeco and Cajun dance all and festival stages on fire. Whether he is playing his single row or piano key accordion, Corey’s music ranges in style from old-time Creole and Zydeco to music done his own way.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Corey grew up hearing the records of Clifton Chenier, Rockin’ Dopsie, and many other great musicians. By the age of 10, Corey began playing the piano key accordion, and after graduating high school, Corey moved over to south Louisiana.

Continue reading ‘Corey “Lil’ Pop” Ledet Bio’

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Goin’ Down to Louisiana

Going Down to Louisiana Cover Click here to buy the CD
Read the “Excellent” review from the San Francisco Chronicle

Not long ago, the future of Creole music looked bleak. Bébé Carriére, the great fiddler at the heart of the Lawtell Playboys, passed away. Danny Poulard, too, was gone. The African American French musical traditions of Southwest Louisiana, which underpin so much of what we now like to call “Cajun” and “Zydeco” music, seemed to be rapidly disappearing, lost in the din of the dancehall and the relentless boom of the electric bass. Salvation, though, often comes from strange places. In this case, it came from perhaps the strangest place of all: Texas.

Continue reading ‘Goin’ Down to Louisiana

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