The Savoy family of Eunice, Louisiana, is known around the world as the “First Family” of Cajun music. As the Savoy Family Cajun Band, parents Marc and Ann and sons Joel and Wilson have performed together for over 15 years. While individually each of the six family members has taken their own unique path in life and music, collectively, the Savoy family represents the past, present and future of the Cajun culture. Father Marc Savoy likes to make a point that he does not perform. Instead he lets the music he has loved from childhood speak for itself. Sitting onstage in his chair, accordion in hand, Marc’s effortless mastery of the instrument leaves nothing to be desired- pyrotechnics not required. A recipient of the National Heritage Award, Marc has been at the forefront of the preservation of Cajun culture since the early 60s and he is known far and wide for his staunch traditional integrity and his philosophies on life and music. Aptly named, his music store/accordion factory the Savoy Music Center in Eunice, Louisiana, has indeed been a center for all things Cajun where the grace and beauty of the elder generation of traditional Cajun musicians takes the “spotlight” at weekly Saturday morning jam sessions. Though originally from Richmond, Virginia, mother Ann Savoy has spent most of her life documenting, preserving and playing Cajun music and her award-winning book Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People is recognized as one of the most important works on Cajun music ever written. She has recorded over twenty albums, four of them GRAMMY-nominated, including an album of duets with the legendary Linda Ronstadt and she has worked with producer T Bone Burnett on two major motion pictures, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and All the King’s Men. Today she continues to travel the world with her bands the Magnolia Sisters, the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, Ann Savoy and her Sleepless Knights, and the Zozo Sisters with Linda Ronstadt.

Sarah Savoy-Gonzales is the eldest of the Savoy children. She lives in Paris, France, where she works as head chef in a restaurant and fronts her own Cajun band, Sarah Savoy's Hell-Raising Hayride.

Joel Savoy is the founder of Valcour Records and from his Studio SavoyFaire in Eunice, Louisiana, he has been producing and recording Louisiana music for the last twenty years, garnering a GRAMMY Award and nine GRAMMY nominations. Two time winner of the Cajun French Music Association “Fiddler of the Year” Award, Joel has played with countless Louisiana legends and folks like John Fogerty, Steve Earle, Linda Ronstadt and T-Bone Burnett. Today he is most often found playing acoustic Cajun music with his quartet The Cajun Country Revival, featuring Cajun accordion legend Jesse Lége.

Wilson Savoy leads the Cajun/Zydeco Rock ’n Roll band, the Pine Leaf Boys. He also plays fiddle in The Band Courtbouillon (with Wayne Toups and Steve Riley) which won a GRAMMY Award in 2012. Wilson teaches accordion and Cajun Ensemble at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and has toured 28 countries and 49 states as a musician.

Gabrielle Savoy is the youngest the the Savoy clan. Though music is a large part of her life, she chose to focus on the arts instead. Her artwork and photography is inspired by the people and places of southwest Louisiana that make her home state so unique and beautiful to her.

Join us at the Freight Thursday June 30th at 8PM for a very special evening with the Savoy family, featuring daughters Sarah and Gabrielle onstage with them for the very first time.

visit the Savoy Family Cajun Band