Joel Savoy Explained

Joel Savoy
Origin:	Eunice, Louisiana, United States
Instrument:	Fiddle
Genre:	Folk, Cajun
Occupation:	Musician, accordion builder, cofounder of Valcour Records
Years Active:	1999–present
Associated Acts:	Savoy Family Band, Red Stick Ramblers, Ann Savoy and her Sleepless Knights,
Website:	http://www.joelsavoy.com

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]}

Discography (partial)

• Linzay Young & Joel Savoy - Linzay Young & Joel Savoy (2008) Valcour Records^[13]
• Joel Savoy's Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round" (2013) Valcour Records^[13]
• Toi, Tu Joues à L’amour - Kelli Jones and Joel Savoy (2018) Valcour Records^[13]

With others

• Allons Boire un Coup: A Collection of Cajun and Creole Drinking Songs - Various artists (2006) Valcour Records^[13]
• If Dreams Come True - Ann Savoy & Her Sleepless Knights (2007) Memphis Records
• Cedric Watson - Cedric Watson (2008) Valcour Records^[13]
• The Cajun Country Revival: The Right Combination Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy, Caleb Klauder, and others (2011) Valcour Records^[13]
• The Cajun Country Revival: Greetings from Louisiana Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy, Caleb Klauder, and others (2014) Valcour Records^[13]
• I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country four-EP set - various artists (2015) Valcour Records^[13]
• Sabra & the Get Rights EP - Sabra & the Get Rights (2016) Valcour Records^[13]
• Farewell, Alligator Man: A Tribute to the Music of Jimmy C. Newman - Joel Savoy, Kelli Jones, Caleb Klauder, and Reeb Willms (2019?) Valcour Records^[13]

See also

• Red Stick Ramblers
• Savoy Family Band

See also

• History of Cajun Music
• List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music

External links

• • Valcour Records website

Notes and References

1. News: Himes. Geoffrey. March 4, 2007. Cajun Sound, Rock 'n' Roll Energy. The New York Times. 2018-10-22.
2. Book: Mardi Gras: a Cajun Country Celebration. Diane. Hoyt-Goldsmith. Lawrence. Migdale. Holiday House. September 1995. 11–15. 978-0-8234-1184-9. 31519961. registration.
3. News: LeBlanc. Jill Norman. March 8, 2006. Party Girl. The Independent. Lafayette, LA. 2018-10-22.
4. Web site: Cajun Mardi Gras Celebrations. March 18, 2017. Romer. Megan. ThoughtCo.. 2018-10-22. June 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615010712/http://worldmusic.about.com/od/northamerican/ss/MardiGrasPhotos_4.htm. dead.
5. Web site: Valcour Records. Charlie. Munn. Blues in London. 2018-10-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20081012212955/http://www.bluesinlondon.com/features/valcour_records.html. October 12, 2008.
6. Web site: Goin Down to Louisiana. Valcour Records. 2018-10-22. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110302230431/http://www.valcourrecords.com/2006/04/20/goin-down-to-louisiana-2/. 2011-03-02.
7. Web site: Joel Savoy wins Fiddler of the Year Award . Valcour Records. 2018-10-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110429185708/http://www.valcourrecords.com/2008/08/22/196/ . 2011-04-29 .
8. News: Wirt. John. Savoy a key component of La. music . 2TheAdvocate . Louisiana Broadcasting LLC and Capital City Press LLC . 2008-09-05. 2011-03-15.
9. Savoy referred to Jones as his "ex-wife" in a Youtube video of a concert he gave along with other members of the Cajun Country Revival on June 24, 2019
10. Web site: Savannah Music Festival: For Joel Savoy, 'Whatever I do is Cajun enough for me' . Morekis, Jim . Connect Savannah . March 22, 2017 . 2019-11-20.
11. Web site: Joel Savoy:Schedule . Joel Savoy . 2019 . 2019-11-20.
12. Web site: Valcour Records . Kelli Jones and Joel Savoy: Toi, Tu Joues à L'amour . 2019 . 2019-11-20.
13. Web site: Valcour Records . Valcour Records . 2019-11-21.