GRAMMY Nominee "Americana/Cajun/Zydeco category"
"Joyful, exotic... a la the bluesy moans of Janis Joplin..." - Los Angeles Times
The most joyful Americana/Cajun/Zydeco act on tour today!
This GRAMMY Nominated fiddler, dancer, vocalist, and songwriter serves up heart-moving Louisiana Bayou rhythms, traditional stylings and original songs speaking to all ages.
Bringing modern Roots music to a wide audience
reaches far beyond solely traditional genre.
Prepare to catch "Zydecosis!"
o GRAMMY Nominated album "King Cake" on Billboard World Chart
o Three women in our five-piece band, with Lisa Haley violin,
Gigi Rabe “Accordion Diva” and amazing drummer Maria Martinez
o National touring act representing Zydeco for:
- GRAMMY Museum Concert Series
- Hollywood Bowl Summersounds Concert Series
- Sir George Martin (Beatles producer) film "Rhythm of Life,"
and events worldwide
o Celebrating 15 years as a band!
o Latest album "Absolutely Live!" - preparing to make album #8
o Touring in over 20 countries -
Festival, Performing Arts, and Educational Shows
o Pollstar Box Office sellouts - US and European dates
A Blue Fiddle Records recording artist, Lisa's musical upbringing combines multi-faceted genres of Americana, Cajun/Zydeco, Irish/Celtic, World/Pop, Folk/Bluegrass, Blues and Jazz genres, in which she is well-versed. The power her strong vocals, family songs and stories convey our shared human emotion - a cultural journey transforming over time.
A fourth-generation fiddler, Lisa's mother's family were Irish immigrants, arriving in Roddy Bayou, Louisiana in 1718 to escape a smallpox epidemic. Close on their heels came the French Diaspora of the late 1700?s; they soon married into the LeBoeuf, Broussard, Lambert and Thibodaux families. Born in Delaware to expatriate Southern parents serving in the Navy Reserves and Pentagon, Lisa is a descendant of Francis Scott Key; also kin to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bill Haley, and Pocahontas. She spent many days of her
early life in the South and began performing at age four.
Soon after, the family moved near Hollywood, California for her mother's health, where Mickey Mouse Show producer Bob Holoboff offered to make Lisa a Mousekateer. Her parents politely declined, thinking it no life for a young lady. Cajun music was confined to her research scientist father's home laboratory - Lisa's parents decided on a respectable career in classical music for their children - but immersion with
Southern relatives reinforced her musical heritage.
Following entrée at age 17 to the Hollywood music scene as music director for an Operetta company, Lisa turned down a classical music college scholarship, favoring her more passionate calling: Americana/Cajun/Zydeco's potential as a World Music.
A member of the surrounding Louisiana-expatriate community, Lisa flourished under the mentorship of several Cajun/Zydeco accordion legends:
o Queen Ida - GRAMMY Winner (grew up in Daly City, CA,)
o Danny Poulard (40 year resident of San Francisco, CA,) and
o Joe Simien (50 year resident of South Los Angeles, CA.)
The protégé and "adopted daughter" of Joe Simien, Lisa performed the "Cajun Way" with his band for 15 years. With Queen Ida, Lisa toured the US, Canada and Europe to favorable reviews. She also toured with Al Rapone
and GRAMMY Winner Rockin' Sydney ("Don't Mess with My Toot-toot") , and learned fiddle secrets from Cajun Fiddle master Canray Fontenot.
Springboarding to her own "Lisa Haley & the Zydekats" in 1994,
she performs a world-class show as ambassador of the "One World Swamp."
o Work with multi-Grammy winner/producer KebMo', Queen Ida, Brian Setzer, John Hiatt,
Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Dave Koz, Al Rapone, Rockin' Sydney, Joe Simien.
o Music director, Emmy-winning "Late Mr Pete Show."
o In films Beverly Hillbillies Movie, Man in the Moon, Red Dragon, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and more, soundtrack on film "The Waterboy."
o Representing Cajun/Zydeco in Beatles producer Sir George Martin film, "Rhythm of Life."
o On NBC-TV's "Las Vegas - Mardi Gras Episode" playing her Zydeco
and performing with Little Richard.
o Featured in Hollywood Bowl Summersounds, presented by the L.A. Philharmonic Assn,
a theatrical production based on 10 of Lisa's songs.
The Zydekats:
o Lisa Haley - violin and vocals (KebMo', Brian Setzer, Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Dave Coz, Queen Ida, many others)
o Chuck Alvarez - guitar and vocals (Tim Weisberg, David Benoit, musical director/guitarist for Grammy winners The Emotions)
o Gigi "Gee" Rabe, "L.A. Accordion Diva" for Micky Dolenz (Monkees) /Never Shout Never
o Andy Anders - bass and vocals (many traditional Cajun/Zydeco greats including Joe Simien; Joe Daly, The Platters)
o Maria Martinez - drums and percussion, New Orleans native (Rita Coolidge, Johnny Paycheck, Barry White, Angela Bofill, Klymaxx, Emmanuel, Trini Lopez, Peach, El Chicano, Nel Carter)
Additional Players Available:
Rubboard/Percussion
Lady Mardi Gras stilt dancers - two to five members
Swamptone Horns - three to five piece horn section
The ultimate complement: "That girl plays as good as a man!"
- Clifton Chenier, "The King of Zydeco"
"A world-class show - all the way to the top! We need more like Lisa Haley!"
- John Ertl, Bastille Days Fest, Milwaukee
"The "Mick Jagger" of Zydeco - Swamp-Rock ala Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams"
- Jake Bacon, KUCI Radio
"Lisa has the Spirit in her, big time! Her music just plain grabs you and takes you over!"
- KebMo', multi-GRAMMY winner, co-producer, Lisa's fourth album "Talking to the Sun" on Ryko/Warner
"...enormous fun... makes people want to get up and enjoy!"
- Sir George Martin (Beatles' producer)
Endorsers: Yamaha, Barcus-Berry, Peavey, JBL, Fender/SWR, Korg, DW, Paiste,
QSC, BBE, ProTec cases, ProCo cables, Thomastic
Discography
Absolutely Live! (2009)
King Cake (2008) on Blue Fiddle Records
All the Way Live! (2006) on Blue Fiddle Records
Reggie Alligator (2005) single on Blue Fiddle Records
Talking to the Sun (2002) on Ryko/Warner
Louisiana (2000) on Corazong Records Europe (compilation)
The Music of Joe Simien (1999) on Blue Fiddle Records
Waiting for the Sky (1997) on Blue Fiddle Records
Lisa Haley & the Zydekats (1995) on Blue Fiddle Records
Radio airplay in the U.S. and 66 countries worldwide.
Links
http://www.lisahaley.com
Lisa Haley Official webpage
Lisa Haley MySpace Page
|