LDMA

As the calendar turns to April and springtime is in the air, Louisianans get ready to attend music festivals around the state.  In honor of the Baton Rouge Blues Festival (April 14th-15th), Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette (April 25th-29th), and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 27th-May 6th), the LDMA is highlighting Louisiana music in April.  Louisiana is home to diverse musical genres, including Blues, Country, Cajun, Jazz, R & B, Opera, and Zydeco.    See LPB’s interviews through the years with the talented musicians from around the state who share Louisiana music with the world. 

Castro Carazo (1978)

Former Leader of the LSU Tiger Marching Band

Dennis McGee (1981) 

Cajun fiddler from Eunice

Jimmie Davis (1982)

Country singer & two-term Governor from Beech Springs

Mickey Gilley (1982)

Country singer from Ferriday

Doug Kershaw (1982)

Cajun singer & fiddler from Cameron Parish

Pete Fountain (1983)

Jazz clarinetist from New Orleans

Al Hirt (1983)

Jazz trumpeter from New Orleans

Nellie Lutcher (1983)

Jazz and blues singer from Lake Charles

Allen Toussaint (1983)

R & B pianist and composer from New Orleans

Alvin Batiste (1985)

Jazz clarinetist from New Orleans

Canray Fontenot (1988)

Creole fiddler from Evangeline Parish

Dewey Balfa (1991)

Cajun fiddler from Grand Louis near Mamou

Wynton Marsalis (1994)

Jazz trumpeter from New Orleans

Aaron Neville (1994)

R & B singer from New Orleans

Percy Sledge (1994)

R & B singer, who lived in Baton Rouge

Michael Doucet (1996)

Cajun fiddler & vocalist from Scott

Jeffrey Wells (1997)

Opera singer from Baton Rouge

Marcia Ball (1998)

Blues singer & pianist from Vinton

Irma Thomas (1998)

R & B singer from New Orleans

“Gatemouth” Brown (2000)

Blues musician from Vinton

Zachary Richard (2000)

Cajun musician & poet from Scott

Elizabeth Futral (2001)

Opera singer from Covington

Paul Groves (2001)

Opera singer from Lake Charles

Kix Brooks (2012)

Country musician from Shreveport

Ellis Marsalis (2013)

Jazz pianist from New Orleans

Documentaries

Throughout the month of April, you can also view these documentaries in their entirety:

• Frame After Frame: The Images of Herman Leonard
• Rainin’ In My Heart: Back to the Blues
• Jazz for Young People: What is New Orleans Music?

To see more stories, check out the complete Louisiana Music topic.