Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Big Sam's Funky Nation is NOLA funk! Presiding over his Funky Nation is Big Sam, a big man with an impeccable urban fashion sense, who blows the funk out of his trombone and refuses to let the audience sit still. BSFN puts out hard hitting, New Orleans flavored, funk that will blow you out of your seat and onto the dance floor
Web address: www.bigsamsfunkynation.com
Key of Z Rubboards
The first Frottoir to be used strictly as a musical instrument was born from that historical, chance encounter between a now famous, Creole musician and a Cajun metal craftsman. The story of this historic musical invention remained a quiet, respectfully held source of family pride for the Landry family with connection to the Cheniers for more than fifty years. And now, the time had come to historically record this event, Tee Don and his mother, Ms. Myrtis Landry, and CJ Chenier, Mr. Clifton's son are the sole surviving keepers of this story. To this day, Tee Don Landry continues the valued tradition first established by his father in 1946. All " Key of Z" (TM) Rubboards are still shaped and finished by hand. Tee Don's rubboards are in the Smithsonian Institute.
Web address: www.rubboards.com www.rubboards.com
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys have been performing Cajun music in Louisiana and throughout the US and internationally for almost 20 years now. With 10 albums and 2 Grammy nominations, they have solidified their reputation as one of south Louisiana's finest musical groups and spokesmen for Cajun music and culture. Their new album due out in the spring of 2008, "The Best of Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys", will celebrate their 20 years together and include three new songs along with almost thirty songs from their past ten cd’’s dating back to the early 1990's.
Web address: www.mamouplayboys.com
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Millions of people visit Louisiana each year to experience the unique music and cuisine of the Creoles. Zydeco is the indigenous music of those multicultural and multi racial rural Creoles who hail from the South Louisiana prairies. Terrance Simien is one of the top artists in the genre whom Rolling Stone calls a "Zydeco Master; his voice yearning like Sam Cooke, he delivers soul worthy of Stax greats and shows crossover class." He's shared studio and stage with Paul Simon, Los Lobos, Robert Palmer, Dave Matthews Band, Dennis Quaid and Rick Danko to name a few. He's performed for over a million people, touring over millions of miles to more than 45 countries. He has been seen on screen in major films, television (HBO) shows and national commercials. He was the first Zydeco artist to perform in Cuba with the US State Department and was recently successful in helping to establish a new Grammy category for Zydeco and Cajun Music. His Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco has been presented to over 200,000 students in 20 US States, Canada, Australia, Paraguay, Mali, Seychelles, Rodrigues and Mauritius.
Web address: www.terrancesimien.com
The Hackberry Ramblers
Hot Biscuits Recording Company was founded in 1997 to release a new album by The Hackberry Ramblers entitled Deep Water, which was nominated for a Grammy Award as the Best Traditional Folk album of 1997. Re-released in 2000 The Hackberry Ramblers’ Cajun Boogie on Hot Biscuits. The Hackberry Ramblers were founded in 1933 and, until 2005, the band still featured the two original founding members from way back then. Fiddler Luderin Darbone, a spry 94 year-old, remains active at this writing (November, 2007.) In 2004 the band was featured in the documentary Make ‘Em Dance: The Hackberry Ramblers’ Story ( http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/makethemdance/ ) which was televised nationally as part of the PBS series Independent Lens.
Web address: www.hackberryramblers.com
Whirling Brass Music
Whirling Brass Music specializes in distributing music for independent Louisiana musicians. Genres range from Rap to Jazz to Rock. Both physical CDs and digital downloads are available. Current clients include Rebirth Brass Band, Victor Sirker, Suspecks, and Tasha Richardson.
Web address: wildwaynemedia.com/WhirlingBrassMusic/
Zachary Richard
Singer-songwriter and poet, Zachary Richard was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. His music is influenced by the styles typical of the region : Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans rhythm and blues. But, Zachary has always gone beyond the limitations of any particular style. With his latest album “Lumière dans le noir” (Light in the dark), Zachary Richard goes deeper into his own unique musical universe.
Web address: www.zacharyrichard.com/english/home.html
There is so much to see and do in Louisiana. Here are a few ideas to get you started.