Cedric Watson
Encyclopedia
Cedric Watson is an American musician. He has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards.
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."
In 2010 Watson appeared in season 1 episode 7 of the HBO series Treme
with Wilson Savoy
and Watsons 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 Watsons replacement, but choking at the audition. Watson actually left the band to form Bijou Creole in 2006, not 2005 as depicted in the show.
, John Delafose, Canray Fontenot
, Beau Jocque (Andrus Espree ) and Bebe Carrier. "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."
Career
Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in San Felipe, TexasSan Felipe, Texas
San Felipe, also known as San Felipe de Austin, is a town in Austin County, Texas, United States. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 868 at the 2000 census.-History:...
surrounded by the blues, old soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
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
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
where he became part of the musical community and began contributing to the continuity of Creole music
Creole music
Creole music applies to two genres of music from south Louisiana: Creole folk and Creole. Creole folk dates from the 18th century or before, and it consists primarily of folk songs. Many were published, and some found their way into works by Louisiana composers such as Louis Moreau Gottschalk,...
.
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
Pine Leaf Boys
The Pine Leaf Boys is a Cajun and Creole band from South Louisiana. Members include Wilson Savoy , Courtney Granger , Drew Simon , Jon Bertrand , and Thomas David .-Career:...
, Cedric added a Creole and zydeco foundation to the group's roots Southwest Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana is a five-parish area intersecting the Acadiana and Central Louisiana regions in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is composed of the following parishes : Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis...
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
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. 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."
In 2010 Watson appeared in season 1 episode 7 of the HBO series Treme
Treme (TV series)
Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
with Wilson Savoy
Wilson Savoy
Wilson Allen Savoy is a Grammy nominated Cajun accordion player and singer in the band the Pine Leaf Boys as well as a local filmmaker in Lafayette, LA...
and Watsons replacement in the Pine Leaf Boys Courtney Granger. The scenes depict Annie (Lucia Micarelli
Lucia Micarelli
Lucia Micarelli is an American violinist and actress best known for her collaborations with Josh Groban and classic rock band Jethro Tull, and her role as Annie in Treme.-Early Life:...
) trying out to join the Pine Leaf Boys on a Canadian tour as Watsons replacement, but choking at the audition. Watson actually left the band to form Bijou Creole in 2006, not 2005 as depicted in the show.
Musical style
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. With accordionist Corey “Lil’ Pop” Ledet, he displays the more blues and R&B influence of Clifton ChenierClifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier , a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983...
, John Delafose, Canray Fontenot
Canray Fontenot
Canray Fontenot was an American Creole fiddle player, who has been described as "the greatest black Louisiana French fiddler of our time."-Early life:...
, Beau Jocque (Andrus Espree ) and Bebe Carrier. "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."
Discography
- L'Esprit Creole (2010) Valcour RecordsValcour RecordsValcour Records is an independent record label based in Eunice, Louisiana. Valcour was founded in 2006 by Joel Savoy , with friends Phillip LaFargue II and Lucius Fontenot.Valcour Records' first release in 2006 was Goin' Down to Louisiana, by fiddle player Cedric Watson and accordionist Corey...
—ASIN: B0030E7PZ6 - Homage Au Passe (2009) with Pine Leaf BoysPine Leaf BoysThe Pine Leaf Boys is a Cajun and Creole band from South Louisiana. Members include Wilson Savoy , Courtney Granger , Drew Simon , Jon Bertrand , and Thomas David .-Career:...
, Lionsgate RecordsLions Gate EntertainmentLions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
—ASIN: B0023BZ64E - Cedric Watson (2008) Valcour RecordsValcour RecordsValcour Records is an independent record label based in Eunice, Louisiana. Valcour was founded in 2006 by Joel Savoy , with friends Phillip LaFargue II and Lucius Fontenot.Valcour Records' first release in 2006 was Goin' Down to Louisiana, by fiddle player Cedric Watson and accordionist Corey...
—ASIN: B00151HZYW - Goin' Down to Louisiana (2007) Valcour RecordsValcour RecordsValcour Records is an independent record label based in Eunice, Louisiana. Valcour was founded in 2006 by Joel Savoy , with friends Phillip LaFargue II and Lucius Fontenot.Valcour Records' first release in 2006 was Goin' Down to Louisiana, by fiddle player Cedric Watson and accordionist Corey...
—ASIN: B000GBE8EM
External links
- Cedric Watson official website.
- Les Amis Creole official website.
- Pine Leaf Boys official website.
- Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole: Creole Moon Live from Blue Moon Saloon