Michael Doucet & Beausoleil
The formation of BeauSoleil, one of the best known and most highly respecte… Read Full Bio ↴The formation of BeauSoleil, one of the best known and most highly respected cajun bands in the world, is due to fiddler Michael Doucet's desire to keep the unique southern Louisiana culture and music from extinction. But while BeauSoleil originated to help preserve his cajun musical heritage, over the years it has been also known for its innovation. They are continually adding spice from other musical genres including jazz and Caribbean. In this way, BeauSoleil's keeps the music vital and contemporary.
Doucet was born and raised in Cajun country surrounded by the old French songs that comprise the basis of the music. But from the time of his birth to adulthood in the 1960s, Cajun culture began to disappear. Young Doucet, thinking Cajun music antiquated and passe, began his musical career playing rock with New Orleans influence. He began getting into folk rock towards the end of the '60s and even tried singing a few of his numbers in French. It was a song from the British folk group Fairport Convention and their song, "Cajun Woman," that resparked his interest in his native music. He went to France and England in 1973 just before he was to enter grad school in the U.S. He ended up staying many years studying with Scottish fiddle great Barry Dransfield, who eventually introduced him to his idol Richard Thompson. Later, Doucet credited Thompson for influencing his own compositions. The young fiddler's stay in France also had a profound influence. There he saw that the roots of Cajun were still very much alive. The old songs were still sung, and he heard their centuries-old influence in newer folk songs. It made him realize how modern Cajun music was in comparison. In the mid-'70s, Doucet joined Coteau, an improvisational folk-music based French group that was known as the Cajun equivalent to the Grateful Dead. After a time with them, he returned to the U.S., determined to immerse himself in Cajun musical history. A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts supported him as he located the nearly forgotten early composers and performers of Cajun music.
Armed with many traditional Cajun songs, Doucet formed BeauSoleil with some of the finest Cajun musicians, Dennis McGee, Dewey and Will Balfa, Varise Connor, Canray Fontenot, and Bessyl Duhon. Their band name literally means 'good sun' and is a reference to a fertile region in Nova Scotia. In the 17th century, French speaking Acadians lived in the Canadian province until conflicts with the French and British forced them to migrate down to Louisiana where they became called Cajuns. BeauSoleil cut its first record in 1976 and released it only in France. They made their American debut the following year with The Spirit of Cajun Music. It was an eclectic work illustrating the many musical styles from which Cajun music is derived. Between then and the early '90s, BeauSoleil released over a dozen albums. Some are traditional while others are more experimental. In 1988, Doucet received the first annual Clifton Chenier Award as the finest musician in French-speaking Louisiana. Since 1985, the band has been nominated for numerous Grammy's. They have played on movie soundtracks such as The Big Easy, Passion Fish and Belizaire the Cajun. They have played at jazz and folk festivals round the world and have also appeared on numerous television shows ranging from CNN's Showbiz Today to Austin City Limits to Late Night with Conan O'Brien. BeauSoleil also performs regularly on public radio, most notably on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Keillor has hailed them as the "best Cajun band in the world." They have performed with Mary Chapin Carpenter, and opened for the Grateful Dead.
As of the mid-'90s the line up for BeauSoleil includes Doucet's brother David on guitar, Acadian accordion player Jimmy Breaux, Al Tharp on bass/banjo and fiddle, percussionist Billy Ware and drummer Tommy Alesi. Doucet and other bandmembers periodically record solo albums such as Doucet's Beau Solo.
Doucet was born and raised in Cajun country surrounded by the old French songs that comprise the basis of the music. But from the time of his birth to adulthood in the 1960s, Cajun culture began to disappear. Young Doucet, thinking Cajun music antiquated and passe, began his musical career playing rock with New Orleans influence. He began getting into folk rock towards the end of the '60s and even tried singing a few of his numbers in French. It was a song from the British folk group Fairport Convention and their song, "Cajun Woman," that resparked his interest in his native music. He went to France and England in 1973 just before he was to enter grad school in the U.S. He ended up staying many years studying with Scottish fiddle great Barry Dransfield, who eventually introduced him to his idol Richard Thompson. Later, Doucet credited Thompson for influencing his own compositions. The young fiddler's stay in France also had a profound influence. There he saw that the roots of Cajun were still very much alive. The old songs were still sung, and he heard their centuries-old influence in newer folk songs. It made him realize how modern Cajun music was in comparison. In the mid-'70s, Doucet joined Coteau, an improvisational folk-music based French group that was known as the Cajun equivalent to the Grateful Dead. After a time with them, he returned to the U.S., determined to immerse himself in Cajun musical history. A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts supported him as he located the nearly forgotten early composers and performers of Cajun music.
Armed with many traditional Cajun songs, Doucet formed BeauSoleil with some of the finest Cajun musicians, Dennis McGee, Dewey and Will Balfa, Varise Connor, Canray Fontenot, and Bessyl Duhon. Their band name literally means 'good sun' and is a reference to a fertile region in Nova Scotia. In the 17th century, French speaking Acadians lived in the Canadian province until conflicts with the French and British forced them to migrate down to Louisiana where they became called Cajuns. BeauSoleil cut its first record in 1976 and released it only in France. They made their American debut the following year with The Spirit of Cajun Music. It was an eclectic work illustrating the many musical styles from which Cajun music is derived. Between then and the early '90s, BeauSoleil released over a dozen albums. Some are traditional while others are more experimental. In 1988, Doucet received the first annual Clifton Chenier Award as the finest musician in French-speaking Louisiana. Since 1985, the band has been nominated for numerous Grammy's. They have played on movie soundtracks such as The Big Easy, Passion Fish and Belizaire the Cajun. They have played at jazz and folk festivals round the world and have also appeared on numerous television shows ranging from CNN's Showbiz Today to Austin City Limits to Late Night with Conan O'Brien. BeauSoleil also performs regularly on public radio, most notably on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Keillor has hailed them as the "best Cajun band in the world." They have performed with Mary Chapin Carpenter, and opened for the Grateful Dead.
As of the mid-'90s the line up for BeauSoleil includes Doucet's brother David on guitar, Acadian accordion player Jimmy Breaux, Al Tharp on bass/banjo and fiddle, percussionist Billy Ware and drummer Tommy Alesi. Doucet and other bandmembers periodically record solo albums such as Doucet's Beau Solo.
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Michael Doucet & Beausoleil Lyrics
Midland Two-Step All I want is to be Warm and home And well known All…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Michael Doucet:
Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
Saint Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
The Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Beausoleil:
Bon Temps Rouler Well I'm going down to Louisiane Gonna find myself a Cajun…
C Be sure it's true when you say I love you It's…
Chanson D'Acadie Moi, j'étais dans ma chaumière Après bénir mon chagrin à to…
It You know I love you I want you to love me…
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie Be sure it's true when you say I love you It's…
It's You I Love You know I love you I want you to love me…
Its A Sin To Tell A Lie Be sure it's true when you say I love you It's…
Its You I Love You know I love you I want you to love me…
J'ai été au Zydeco I′m just the pieces of the man I used to…
Le Sud De La Louisiane On a flotté 'su la grand' mer, On a marché dedans…
Macaque Sur Mon Dos Tu peux pas t'faire accroire que ça c'est tout vrai Tu…
Parlez-Nous A Boire Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage Toujours en regr…
Peut Pas Me Refuser O, mais jolie fille Et où t'es cachées? Loin, loin de chez…
Rolling Pin O, bébé, j’étais soûlé hier au soir Et quand j’ai rentré,…
Tasso / McGee's Reel Alisha's Attic Japanese Dream He's A Rebel (The crystals) S…
Tasso/McGee's Reel Alisha's Attic Japanese Dream He's A Rebel (the crystals) S…
Valse Bébé O bébé, souviens bien les bons temps qu’on a eus O…
Zydeco gris gris Special thanks to: Dani & Tim Huval for researching Cajun…
Zydeco Gris-Gris Special thanks to: Dani & Tim Huval for researching Cajun…