American Cajun musician and music producer
Musical artist
Joel Savoy (born in Eunice, Louisiana, USA) is a Cajun musician and music producer from Southwest Louisiana. His father Marc Savoy, famous accordion builder and musician, and his mother, Ann Savoy, author and music producer,[1] are well known ambassadors and supporters of preserving the Cajun culture.
History
Joel Savoy was born in Eunice. In 1995 many of his childhood experiences with the traditional Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras were included in the children's book Mardi Gras: a Cajun Country Celebration written by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith and Lawrence Migdale.[2] He is a member of the Savoy Family Band along with his father Marc, mother Ann, and brother Wilson Savoy.
In 1999 Joel Savoy co-founded the Red Stick Ramblers from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2006 he started the annual Faquetaigue Courir de Mardi Gras as an alternative to the main Eunice courir event. The run has become one of the most musically based versions of the traditional event.[3][4] Also in 2006 he founded Valcour Records, an independent record label based in Eunice, Louisiana, with friends Phillip LaFargue II and Lucius Fontenot.[5] Valcour Records' first release was Goin' Down to Louisiana (2006) by fiddle player Cedric Watson and accordionist Corey Ledet.[6]
During the 2007 Cajun French Music Association's Le Cajun ceremony at Lafayette's Blackham Coliseum, Joel Savoy garnered the "2007 Fiddler of the Year" award.[7] In 2008 he played on, recorded and produced his mother's album If Dreams Come True at his Studio Savoy Faire. His brother Wilson and several members of the Red Stick Ramblers also played on the album of Django Reinhardt-style blues and jazz standards as "Ann Savoy and her Sleepless Knights".[8]
Joel Savoy had played and performed with his ex-wife and fellow fiddler, Kelli Jones.[9] The couple released a four-song EP in 2018.[10][11][12]
