Wilson Allen Savoy (born February 1, 1982, in Eunice, Louisiana) is a Grammy winning accordionist, keyboard player, fiddler and singer with the Cajun bands Pine Leaf Boys and The Band Courtbouillon, as well as a local filmmaker in Lafayette, LA. His father Marc Savoy, famous accordion builder and musician, and his mother, Ann Savoy, musician, author and music producer,[1] are well known ambassadors and supporters of preserving the Cajun culture.
Wilson Savoy | |
|---|---|
 A fan with Wilson Savoy in June 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | February 1, 1982 |
| Origin | Eunice, Louisiana, United States |
| Genres | Cajun, folk |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Cajun accordion, keyboards, fiddle, vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Rounder, Swallow, Valcour |
History
editWilson Savoy was born in Eunice and began his musical career in 2000 with the Savoy Family Band (consisting of his father Marc, mother Ann, and brother Joel Savoy). Since 2000 he has also operated Almena Pictures, a film company specializing in band documentaries and music videos.[2] In 2004 he joined the Red Stick Ramblers from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and in 2005 formed his own band, the Pine Leaf Boys. In 2006 he and his brother Joel (a fiddle player, cofounder of Valcour Records and also a former member of the Red Stick Ramblers) were instrumental in starting the annual Faquetigue Courir de Mardi Gras as an alternative to the main Eunice event. They felt that the other local runs had gotten too rowdy and lost too much of their authentic traditions. The run has become one of the most musically based on the various versions of the courir.[3][4] Also in 2006, he recorded a collection of 1930's era songs and classic Cajun Swing music with fellow traditional Cajun act the Lost Bayou Ramblers titled Mello Joy Boys: Une Tasse Cafe.[5] In 2008 the Pine Leaf Boys were nominated for a Grammy Award for their 2007 album Blues de Musicien, released on Arhoolie Records. Fellow nominees that year were Geno Delafose, Roddie Romero, Lost Bayou Ramblers, the Racines and the winner of the Grammy Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience.[6][7] In 2010 and 2011, Savoy appeared as himself in three episodes of the HBO series Treme.[8][9] In 2013 the eponymous debut album of The Band Courtbouillion, featuring Savoy, Steve Riley and Wayne Toups won the Grammy Award in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category.[10]
Discography
edit
- 2004 Savoy-Michot Cajun Band: L'autre bord de l'eau
- 2004 Church Point Aces avec Paul Daigle et Mitch Reed: Together At Last for the Last Time
- 2004 Red Stick Ramblers: Right Key, Wrong Keyhole (Rounder Records)
- 2006 Lost Bayou Ramblers: Mello Joy Boys: Une Tasse Cafe (Swallow Records)
- 2007 Ann Savoy & Her Sleepless Knights: If Dreams Come True (Memphis Records)
- 2011 The Band Courtbouillion: The Band Courtbouillion (Valcour Records)[11]
- 2013 Joel Savoy: Joel Savoy's Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round (Valcour Records)[11]
- 2015 various artists: I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country four-EP set (Valcour Records)[11]
See also
Awards
editGrammy Awards
edit| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Blues de Musicien | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Nominated | [10] |
| 2009 | Homage Au Passé | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Nominated | [10] |
| 2010 | Live At 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Nominated | [10] |
| 2011 | Back Home | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Nominated | [10] |
| 2013 | The Band Courtbouillon | Best Regional Roots Music Album | Won | [10] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Himes, Geoffrey (2007). "Cajun Sound, Rock 'n' Roll Energy". The New York Times.
- ^ "Almena Films:Lafayette, Louisiana". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ "Party Girl". The Independent Weekly. March 7, 2006. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ Romer, Megan. "Traditional Cajun Mardi Gras Musician Pictures". Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ "Lost Bayou Ramblers". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ "Cajun and Zydeco Music...At the Grammys". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ "2008 Grammy Nominees in the World Music Categories". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ Alex Rawls (April 1, 2010). "HBO'S TREME: TO TELL THE TRUTH". OffBeat. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
- ^ "Treme (2010-2013): Full Cast & Crew". www.imdb.com. 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Grammy Award Results for Wilson Savoy". www.grammy.com. The Recording Academy. 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Valcour Records". Valcour Records. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
External links
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