Marc Savoy ( ) (born October 1, 1940) is an American musician, and builder and player of the

Cajun accordion A Cajun accordion (in Cajun French: ''accordéon''), also known as a squeezebox, is single-row diatonic button accordion used for playing Cajun music. History Many different accordions were developed in Europe throughout the 19th century, ...

Early life

He was born on his grandfather's rice farm near

Eunice Eunice is a feminine given name, from the Greek Εὐνίκη, ''Euníkē'', from "eu", good, and "níkē", victory. Eunice is also a relatively rare last name, found in Nigeria and the Southeastern United States, chiefly Louisiana and Georgia. Pe ...

, Louisiana. His grandfather was a fiddler, who occasionally played with the legendary Dennis McGee, who was once a tenant farmer on his grandfather's property. Marc Savoy began playing traditional music when he was 12 years old.

Career

Savoy holds a degree in chemical engineering but his primary income is derived from his accordion-making business, based at his Savoy Music Center in Eunice. His wife is the singer and guitarist

Ann Savoy Ann Savoy (; born Ann Allen on January 20, 1952) is a musician, author, and record producer. Biography Savoy was raised in Richmond, Virginia. She resides with her husband Marc Savoy and family in Eunice, Southern Louisiana. As a musician, sh ...

, whom he met in 1975 and married in 1977. He has performed with Robert Bertrand, Dennis McGee, Rodney Balfa, Sady Courville, Dewey Balfa,

D. L. Menard Doris Leon Menard#François90, François 1990, p. 446. (April 14, 1932 – July 27, 2017) was an American songwriter, performer, and recording artist in contemporary Cajun music. He was called the "Cajun Hank Williams". Biography Menard was bor ...

, and

Michael Doucet Michael Louis Doucet (born February 14, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known as the founder of the Cajun band BeauSoleil. Early life Doucet was born in Scott, Louisiana, to a Cajun family. Family parties in the 1950s ...

, the latter of whom he plays with in the Savoy-Doucet Band. He also plays in the

Savoy Family Band Ann Savoy (; born Ann Allen on January 20, 1952) is a musician, author, and record producer. Biography Savoy was raised in Richmond, Virginia. She resides with her husband Marc Savoy and family in Eunice, Southern Louisiana. As a musician, s ...

with his wife Ann and their sons Joel and

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People * Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson Ro ...

. He hosts regular jam sessions and mini-festivals at the Savoy Music Center.

Awards and honors

Savoy is a recipient of a 1992 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

Discography (albums)

As Marc Savoy

* 1976 : ''Under a Green Oak Tree'' (with Dewey Balfa and D.L. Menard) ( Arhoolie Records) * 1981 : ''Oh What a Night'' (Arhoolie) * 1998 : ''Made in Louisiana'' (Voyager)

Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band

* 1983 : ''Home Music'' (K7, Arhoolie) * 1987 : ''With Spirits'' (K7, Arhoolie) * 1989 : ''Two-Step d'Amede'' (Arhoolie) * 1992 : ''Home Music with Spirits'' (Arhoolie) * 1994 : ''Live! At the Dance'' (Arhoolie) * 2002 : ''The Best of the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band'' compilation (Arhoolie)

Savoy Family Band

See

Savoy-Smith Cajun Band

* 1996 : ''Now and Then'' (Arhoolie)

Films

*1972 - ''Spend It All'

*1981 - '' Southern Comfort (1981 film), Southern Comfort''. Directed by Walter Hill. *1989 - ''J'ai Ete Au Bal (I Went To The Dance)''. Directed by Les Blank

*1990 - ''Yum Yum Yum! A Taste Of Cajun And Creole Cooking''. Directed by Les Blank

*1991 - ''Marc & Ann''. Directed by Les Blan

References

External links

* * * *. Barry Jean Ancelet, Meloche.net * at Rootsworld {{DEFAULTSORT:Savoy, Marc 1940 births Living people Cajun accordionists People from Eunice, Louisiana National Heritage Fellowship winners 20th-century American musicians Musicians from Louisiana 21st-century accordionists Arhoolie Records artists