Lisa Haley & the Zydekats          Close Window  |  Print This Page

Genre: Americana/Cajun/Zydeco
Secondary Genre: World

Hollywood, California
USA

Artist Information - Biography
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 Our newest 8th album, “Joy Ride” getting radio airplay in the US & Europe.

o Three times on Billboard World Chart with albums "Joy Ride," "Absolutely Live!"
and GRAMMY Nominated "King Cake."

o Touring in over 20 countries - World, Folk, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Country, Bluegrass, Rock, Pop, Cajun/Zydeco Festivals; Fine Arts Centers, Concert series, Family Entertainment, Film Industry & Corporate events.

o National touring act representing Zydeco for:
- US Arts Programs
- GRAMMY Museum Concert Series
- Hollywood Bowl Summersounds Concert Series
- Sir George Martin (Beatles producer) film "Rhythm of Life,"
- and events worldwide.

o One of Lisa’s music videos featured on AOL.com, ESPN, FoxNews, Nickelodeon and YouTube
(over 682,000 hits so far!)

o Pollstar Box Office sellouts - US and European dates

o Celebrating over 23 years as a band!

o Song "More Than Anything" available for free use to
American Veterans + Servicemembers.

o Touring in over 20 countries -
Festival, Performing Arts, and Educational Shows -
World, Folk, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Country, Bluegrass, Rock, Pop, Cajun/Zydeco Festivals;
Fine Arts Centers, Family Entertainment, Film Industry & Corporate events


The Zydekats are:

o Lisa Haley - violin and vocals
(Keb'Mo', Brian Setzer, American Idol, Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, Dave Coz, Queen Ida, Joe Simien, Rockin' Sydney)

o Dennis Gurwell, accordion, keyboards and vocals
(Disneyland/many well-known Cajun/Zydeco acts)

o Andy Anders - bass and vocals
(Louisiana music legend Joe Simien, Joe Daly, Platters, TV shows)

o Frank Cotinola, drums, rubboard and percussion
(Jesse Colin Young, Walter Trout, Jack Tempchin, Katy Moffatt, Jann Browne)



The ultimate complement: "That girl plays as good as a man!"
- Clifton Chenier, "The King of Zydeco"

"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)

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, R&B 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.
Among her fans are Keb'Mo' and Little Richard.

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 is a National Touring Act 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.


Endorsers: David Gage/Realist, Barcus-Berry, Peavey, JBL, Yamaha, Fender/SWR, Korg, DW, Zildjian,
QSC, BBE, ProTec cases, ProCo cables, Thomastic

Lisa was the protégé of legendary Cajun accordionist Joe Simien

Discography

Joy Ride (2012) on Blue Fiddle Records

Absolutely Live! (2009) on Blue Fiddle Records

King Cake (2008) on Blue Fiddle Records - GRAMMY nominated

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.

Additional Players Available:

Rubboard/Percussion

Lady Mardi Gras stilt dancers - two to five members

Swamptone Horns - three to five piece horn section

Links

http://www.lisahaley.com

Lisa Haley Official webpage

Lisa Haley Facebook Fanclub page

Lisa Haley MySpace Page



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