The GRAMMYs: The Savoy Family and Arhoolie!

The GRAMMY nominations are in and I am pleased to say that all five nominees in the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album category have appeared on Arhoolie Records and three of the five nominations are members of the First Family of Cajun Music, our good friends the SAVOYS!

The Magnolia Sisters led by Ann Savoy have been given the nod for their latest Arhoolie release Stripped Down! The Magnolias include Jane Vidrine, Lisa Trahan, and Anya Burgess. These gutsy, soulful and very talented Louisiana women play a wide variety of Cajun/French music styles and breathe new life into old obscure ballads just as comfortably as they rock the house! Stripped Down is their second release on Arhoolie. Their first, Prends Courage, is still available! Ann is also involved with several other agregations including the Sleepless Knights, the Savoy Family Cajun Band, and the Savoy-Doucet Band!

Ann and Marc Savoy's son Wilson and his amazing band The Pine Leaf Boys are also among the nominees for their latest CD Live At 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. But this is not their first nomination! Blues De Musicien, their second Arhoolie release, was nominated for a GRAMMY in the first year of this category. Our Arhoolie CDs by the Pine Leaf Boys both also feature the great Creole fiddler, Cedric Watson!

Ann and Marc's other son, Joel, started Valcour Records, which released the currently nominated Cedric Watson CD "L'Esprit Creole." Joel and Wilson are also proud members of the Savoy Family Cajun Band which has just completed a wonderful short but wild Bay Area tour which included an in-store appearance at the Down Home Music Store as well as the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, the Beatnik in Sacramento, Don Quixote's in Felton, plus a fantastic private party! Unfortunately Ann was suffering from a terrible cold and was not able to sing but Wilson took over in true Cajun style and sang superbly on every song!

Nominee Beausoleil, fronted by Michael Doucet has made many recordings for Arhoolie and is part of the famous Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band! Buckwheat Zydeco is of course Stanley Durald who recorded on organ for Arhoolie with Clifton Chenier and his famous Red Hot Louisiana Band! We congratulate all the nominees!

If you live in the Bay Area - especially the East Bay - come to the Down Home Music Store in El Cerrito to do some of your Holiday shopping or searching! We will soon be totally re-organized with more interesting items and more frequent in-store performances - and check out the tons of vinyl and 78s, books, DVDs, etc - and e-mail us your suggestions and let us know what you think or want!

Cheers from Mr. Chris