Wilson Savoy

Wilson Allen Savoy (born February 1, 1982 in Eunice, Louisiana) is a Grammy winning accordionist, keyboard player, fiddler and singer with the Cajun bands Pine Leaf Boys and The Band Courtbouillon, as well as a local filmmaker in Lafayette, LA. His father Marc Savoy, famous accordion builder and musician, and his mother, Ann Savoy, musician, author and music producer,[1] are well known ambassadors and supporters of preserving the Cajun culture.

Wilson Savoy
A fan with Wilson Savoy in June 2008
Background information
Born (1982-02-01) February 1, 1982
OriginEunice, Louisiana, United States
GenresCajun, folk
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsCajun accordion, keyboards, fiddle, vocals
Years active2000–present
LabelsRounder, Swallow, Valcour
Associated actsThe Band Courtbouillon, Pine Leaf Boys, Savoy Family Band, Lost Bayou Ramblers

History

Wilson Savoy was born in Eunice and began his musical career in 2000 with the Savoy Family Band (consisting of his father Marc, mother Ann, and brother Joel Savoy). Since 2000 he has also operated Almena Pictures, a film company specializing in band documentaries and music videos.[2] In 2004 he joined the Red Stick Ramblers from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and in 2005 formed his own band, the Pine Leaf Boys. In 2006 he and his brother Joel (a fiddle player, cofounder of Valcour Records and also a former member of the Red Stick Ramblers) were instrumental in starting the annual Faquetigue Courir de Mardi Gras as an alternative to the main Eunice event. They felt that the other local runs had gotten too rowdy and lost too much of their authentic traditions. The run has become one of the most musically based on the various versions of the courir.[3][4] Also in 2006 he recorded a collection of 1930's era songs and classic Cajun Swing music with fellow traditional Cajun act the Lost Bayou Ramblers titled Mello Joy Boys: Une Tasse Cafe.[5] In 2008 the Pine Leaf Boys were nominated for a Grammy Award for their 2007 album Blues de Musicien, released on Arhoolie Records. Fellow nominees that year were Geno Delafose, Roddie Romero, Lost Bayou Ramblers, the Racines and the winner of the Grammy Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience.[6][7] In 2010 and 2011, Savoy appeared as himself in three episodes of the HBO series Treme.[8][9] In 2013 the eponymous debut album of The Band Courtbouillion, featuring Savoy, Steve Riley and Wayne Toups won the Grammy Award in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category.[10]

Discography
The Savoy Family Band, with Wilson on keyboards, performing at Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, October 2018
Wilson (left) and Joel (right) Savoy, October 2018.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
  • 2004 Savoy-Michot Cajun Band: L'autre bord de l'eau
  • 2004 Church Point Aces avec Paul Daigle et Mitch Reed: Together At Last for the Last Time
  • 2004 Red Stick Ramblers: Right Key, Wrong Keyhole (Rounder Records)
  • 2006 Lost Bayou Ramblers: Mello Joy Boys: Une Tasse Cafe (Swallow Records)
  • 2011 The Band Courtbouillion: The Band Courtbouillion (Valcour Records)[11]
  • 2013 Joel Savoy: Joel Savoy's Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round (Valcour Records)[11]
  • 2015 various artists: I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country four-EP set (Valcour Records)[11]

See also Pine Leaf Boys§Discography.

Awards

Grammy Awards
Year Nominated work Award Result Ref.
2008Blues de MusicienBest Zydeco or Cajun Music AlbumNominated[10]
2009Homage Au PasséBest Zydeco or Cajun Music AlbumNominated[10]
2010Live At 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalBest Zydeco or Cajun Music AlbumNominated[10]
2011Back HomeBest Zydeco or Cajun Music AlbumNominated[10]
2013The Band CourtbouillonBest Regional Roots Music AlbumWon[10]

See also

References
  1. Himes, Geoffrey (2007). "Cajun Sound, Rock 'n' Roll Energy". The New York Times.
  2. "Almena Films:Lafayette, Louisiana". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  3. "Party Girl". The Independent Weekly. March 7, 2006. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  4. Romer, Megan. "Traditional Cajun Mardi Gras Musician Pictures". Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  5. "Lost Bayou Ramblers". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  6. "Cajun and Zydeco Music...At the Grammys". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  7. "2008 Grammy Nominees in the World Music Categories". Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  8. Alex Rawls (April 1, 2010). "HBO'S TREME: TO TELL THE TRUTH". OffBeat. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  9. "Treme (2010-2013): Full Cast & Crew". www.imdb.com. 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  10. "Grammy Award Results for Wilson Savoy". www.grammy.com. The Recording Academy. 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  11. "Valcour Records". Valcour Records. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
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