Lee Benoit
| Lee Benoit | |
|---|---|
 Lee Benoit playing the accordion |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lee Benoit |
| Born | 1959 (age 52–53) |
| Origin | Rayne, Louisiana |
| Genres | Cajun |
| Occupations | Accordionist |
| Instruments | Cajun accordion |
| Website | http://www.leebenoit.com/ |
Lee Benoit is a Cajun musician from Rayne, Louisiana.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Lee was born in Louisiana, USA in 1959. At the age of five, he was given an electric organ by his grandmother, who raised him. He started to play Christmas songs on it, by ear.
At the age of twelve, he started to play the electric guitar and formed a band. They played rock n' roll and were influenced by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hank Williams and others. Lee also learnt to play the bass guitar during his teenage years.
In 1976, he joined the Marines as an Automated Data Processor. After leaving the Marines in 1979, he returned to education. In 1985, he became a nationally registered paramedic. He worked as a paramedic on an ambulance for seven years and then for another seven years on an oil platform. He continued to play rock and country music in his spare time.[1]
[edit] Inspiration and first recording
At the age of 29, he was inspired to take up the accordion by hearing the Cajun performer Wayne Toups. Lee fell in love with the instrument and playing Cajun music. He soon added Cajun songs to his set lists.
In 1993, he signed to the Master-Trak label and in 1994 recorded his first CD (Lee Benoit Avec Amis). The album was nominated for "Best First Album" and "Valerie" was nominated for "Song of the Year" by the Cajun French Music Association.[2] Floyd's Record Shop, Louisiana ("Officially Louisiana's Oldest Record Store"), described Benoit as 'the cream of the crop' of the new generation of musicians coming out of South Louisiana.[3]
[edit] Performances, recordings and recognition
He performs with his group Lee Benoit & The Bayou Stompers. They are one of the most active Cajun bands in South Louisiana performing five nights a week at some of the most popular Cajun restaurants from Breaux Bridge to New Orleans. They occasionally take their music on the road and perform at festivals and special events. Lee is very proud of his Cajun heritage and spends a great deal of his time performing traditional and contemporary Cajun music.[4]
After the success of his first album, he contiuned to record his own albums as well as contributing to several CDs by other musicians. In 1995, he recorded "Third Generation"[5] with Hadley Castille. He also played on Hadley's "Forty Acres and Two Mules"[6] album in 2000.
He recorded with the group Les Amies Louisianaises on their La Musique Unique des Acadiens CD in 1997.[7]
Lee played accordion and guitar on Doug Kershaw's "Two Step Fever" CD in 1999.[8] He also co-produced and played guitar on Hunter Hayes "Through My Eyes" CD in 1999[9] and co-produced Hunter's second CD, "Make A Wish", in 2001.[10]
In 2002, he played accordion on Don Haynie & Sheryl Samuel's songs God Bless Louisiana and Country Tavern on Saturday Night.[11]
In 1998, he released his second album, "Live at Vermilionville" which was nominated in five categories by the Cajun French Music Association: "Male Vocalist Of The Year", "Accordionist Of The Year", "Album Of The Year", "Band Of The Year" and "Song Of The Year". He won the latter award, for "The Visit", co-written by Richard D. Meaux and Freddie Pate, at the ceremony on August 13, 1999.
In September 2000, Lee released his third CD, "Dis N Dat".
In 2001, he was awarded "Accordionist Of The Year" and in 2002 earned the "Presidents Award" from the Cajun French Music Association.
Lee recorded and mixed his fourth CD, "Ma Petite Femme" at his home and it was released in 2005. This album cemented his reputation, with Lee winning "Male Vocalist Of The Year", "Accordionist Of The Year" and "Song Of The Year" (with the title song "Ma Petite Femme") from the Cajun French Music Association. Lee also received nominations for "Best Recording Of The Year" and "Peoples Choice 2006". On August 19, 2011, Lee was the recipient of the Heritage Award at the Le Cajun Awards Show by the Cajun French Music Association for outstanding contributions and dedication to the preservation of the Cajun culture.[4]
[edit] See also
- Cajun Music
- History of Cajun Music
- List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
- Cajun French Music Association
[edit] References
- ^ MySpace.com - Lee Benoit - Rayne, Louisiana - Folk / 2-step - www.myspace.com/leebenoit
- ^ http://www.cajunfrenchmusic.org/music/pastwinners.htm
- ^ Floyd's Record Shop
- ^ a b Lee Benoit and the Bayou Stompers
- ^ allmusic ((( La Musique De Les Castilles > Credits )))
- ^ Hadley Castille
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/la-musique-unique-des-acadiens-r342761/credits
- ^ allmusic ((( Two Step Fever > Credits )))
- ^ Through My Eyes
- ^ HUNTER HAYES "Make A Wish" CD
- ^ http://www.haysam.com/godbless/cd.htm
[edit] Discography
- Avec Amis (1994)
- Live At Vermilionville (1998)
- Dis 'N' Dat (2000)
- Ma Petite Femme (2005)
[edit] External links
- Lee Benoit & The Bayou Stompers Official Site
- Facebook Page
- Facebook Fan Page
- Facebook Musician/Band Page
- Lee Benoit on Myspace
- Contemporary Louisiana Cajun, Creole and Zydeco Musicians Page
- Allmusic Page
- MTE Records
- Les Amies Louisianaises
- Don Haynie & Sheryl Samuel
- cm-life.com
- Zydeco Cajun Byway
- Bayou Genealogy
