American musician (born 1983)
Musical artist
Cedric Watson
(born 1983)
[2]
is an American musician. He has been nominated four times for
Grammy Awards
.
[3]
[4]
Career
[
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]
Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in
San Felipe, Texas
surrounded by the
blues
,
old soul
,
country
, and
zydeco
music. Though
hip-hop
was then popular amongst his peers, Cedric developed an affinity for the old-style French songs of Southwest Louisiana and the greater
Houston
area. He soon found himself in
Lafayette, Louisiana
where he became part of the musical community and began contributing to the continuity of
Creole music
.
He has played with some of the great names in Creole music, such as
Dexter Ardoin and the Creole Ramblers
and
Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
. With the
Pine Leaf Boys
, Cedric added a Creole and zydeco foundation to the group's roots
Southwest Louisiana
sound. Cedric continues to explore the roots of Louisiana's Creole music with his own band, Bijou Creole.
He has performed in places across the United States as well as in France, Nova Scotia,
Haiti
, and Spain. He has said he wants "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."
[5]
In 2010 Watson appeared in season 1 episode 7 of the HBO series
Treme
with
Wilson Savoy
and Watson's replacement in the
Pine Leaf Boys
Courtney Granger. The scenes depict Annie (
Lucia Micarelli
) trying out to join the Pine Leaf Boys on a Canadian tour as Watson's replacement, but choking at the audition. Watson actually left the band to form Bijou Creole in 2006, not 2005 as depicted in the show.
[6]
Musical style
[
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]
Cedric Watson plays a variety of old-school zydeco styles, original material, and Creole traditionals. The polyrhythmic and syncopated sounds of Africa and the Caribbean echo in his ensemble. He plays old La-La French music (traditional Creole music) in accordion, fiddle, and guitar with mentors Edward Poullard and James Adams in Les Amis Creole
[1]
. With accordionist Corey "Lil' Pop" Ledet, he displays the more blues and R&B influence of
Clifton Chenier
,
John Delafose
,
Canray Fontenot
,
Beau Jocque
(Andrus Espree ) and
Bebe Carrier
.
[7]
"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."
[5]
More recently with Bijou Creole, he is "developing an expansive modern take on his adopted state's already hybridized Creole sounds, flavoring it with hearty injections of soul and Caribbean influences as well as whiffs of bluegrass and string-band music?an approach that reached its fullest expression yet on [2013's]
Le Troubadour Creole
."
[8]
Discography
[
edit
]
- Les Amis Creole
Les Amis Creole (sic) (2006)
Arhoolie Records
[9]
- Goin' Down to Louisiana
Cedric Watson and Corey Ledet (2006)
Valcour Records
?ASIN: B000GBE8EM
[10]
- Cedric Watson
(2008) Valcour Records?ASIN: B00151HZYW
[10]
- Homage Au Passe
with
Pine Leaf Boys
(2009)
Lionsgate Records
?ASIN: B0023BZ64E
- L'Esprit Creole
with Bijou Creole (2009) Valcour Records?ASIN: B0030E7PZ6
[10]
- Creole Moon: Live From Blue Moon Saloon
(2010) Valcour Records
[10]
- Le Soleil Est Leve
with Bijou Creole (2011) Lache Pas Records [Watson's own label]
[8]
- Le Troubadour Creole
with Bijou Creole (2013) Lache Pas Records
Compilations
[
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]
- Allons Boire un Coup: A Collection of Cajun and Creole Drinking Songs
Various (2006) Valcour Records
[10]
- En Francais: Cajun 'n' Creole Rock 'n' Roll
Various (2011)
Bayou Teche Brewing
/
CD Baby
On Others' Recordings
[
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]
- L'autre bord de l'eau
Savoy-Michot Cajun Band
(2004)
- Transatlantic Sessions: Songs of Death, Divorce, Drinking and Dancing
Cajun Roosters (2011) Whoopee Records-Pine Groove Sound/
CD Baby
- Movin' On
Ilana Katz Katz (2016)
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]
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National
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Artists
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