The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards are filled with ties to New Orleans and Louisiana. From the nominations of Harry Connick, Jr. in the Pop category and Allen Toussaint and Terence Blanchard in Jazz categories to the acknowledgements of the True Blood soundtrack and Dave Matthews’ latest effort (recorded at Piety Street Recording), the diversity of the Louisiana music scene is well represented at the Grammy ceremonies.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Best Zydeco or Cajun Album category, only the third of its kind in the history of the Grammy awards. Not only does the award honor the talents of our musical ambassadors, it works to garner worldwide recognition for a genre deeply embedded in the roots and folklore of southern Louisiana.
The influence of the newly-initiated category has sent shockwaves through the Cajun music community, giving a boost to its musicians and the culture as its presence means more work and more attention for its players.
“It is exciting to have been nominated three times in a row,” Pine Leaf Boys’ vocalist and accordion player Wilson Savoy says. “Now that a Grammy category exists for Cajun and zydeco musicians, new life has been breathed into the recording industry here. Everyone is excited and recording new records and playing new tunes, something new. Local bands are traveling more and more and receiving more deserved recognition from outside of Louisiana. I think this Grammy category for Cajun and zydeco musicians is a milestone in the popularity of Cajun music outside of Louisiana.”
The Pine Leaf Boys are nominated for Live at 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
For Terrance Simien, who worked with his wife Cynthia Simien to introduce the category and won the first Cajun/zydeco Grammy award in 2008, the awards help to spread the word about zydeco and Cajun music to the world.
“Cajun music was confined to the swamp,” he says. “We used to do it in dance halls when it was just about playing and having folks enjoy the music. Now I see things differently. We’re here to educate people on the culture and the music, change the way they see it, the way they see us.”
The Cajun and zydeco artists have used the Grammy to do more business, and so has the Louisiana entertainment industry. In conjunction with Louisiana Music Partners, the third annual Night of Louisiana Music will be held in Los Angeles the evening before the ceremonies. Making its debut at the GRAMMY Museum, the best of the bayou will be presented to an audience of guests from music, film and tourism industries. The showcase will highlight the rich cultural heritage of our state and feature the talents of current Grammy nominees the Magnolia Sisters, Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole, Zachary Richard, and C.C. Adcock.
The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, January 31 on CBS.
