In the Savoy family, Cajun music roots run deep. At age seven, patriarch Marc Savoy learned fiddling from his French-speaking grandfather. At 12, he fashioned his own accordion using toilet float rods. By 25, he had launched his own accordion-making business, Savoy Music Center, in his hometown of Eunice, Louisiana.
Though Virginia native Ann Allen was not born a Cajun, she was destined to become one. While browsing a record bin in Washington D.C., the roots/blues/jazz guitarist discovered an old Cajun 78 record. She loved the sound so much that she longed for more. “I was like, ‘What are these old archaic French songs, they’re so cool!’” she recalled. “Then I realized it was Louisiana people and Louisiana music, so that’s when I got really, really interested.”
In 1975, Ann fortuitously attended a festival at D.C. music venue, Wolf Trap, where she met Savoy. After making music together, the two married a short two years later in 1977 and moved to Eunice. “When I came down to Louisiana to see it, I just became enamored with the whole culture — the people speaking French, the music and the lifestyle,” Ann shared.
On arrival in Acadiana, Marc needed a singer/guitarist, so Ann quickly learned Cajun-style guitar and lyrics. Fortunately, the French major had mastered the language in Paris and Switzerland. Still, it was quite a transition. “I kind of had to unlearn all my fancy guitar playing and get down to the basic rhythm sound,” she explained. “Then I had to sing, so I had to learn a bunch of Cajun lyrics real quickly. I would get Marc to tell me what he was saying when he was singing. Or I’d just get a record, and since I knew French, I could get the words off the record.”
My husband Marc always says, if you want your children to play music, just have a lot of instruments lying around the house and say, ‘Don’t you dare touch those instruments!’
The couple joined award-winning musician Michael Doucet to form the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Together, they traveled the world and recorded several albums. “We had the most fun together traveling and playing,” Ann recalled.
Meanwhile, Ann reared four children — who were born to be musicians. “My husband Marc always says, if you want your children to play music, just have a lot of instruments lying around the house and say, ‘Don’t you dare touch those instruments!’”
When sons Joel and Wilson were preteens, the Savoys performed at a friend’s birthday party. That became their official debut as the Savoy Family Cajun Band. Together, the members play an amazing array of instruments — Ann on guitar, fiddle, autoharp, dulcimer and accordion; Wilson on piano, accordion, fiddle and guitar; Joel on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and steel; and Marc on accordion.
Both Joel and Wilson have won Grammys with The Band Courtbouillon in the Regional Roots category. The brothers also appeared onscreen in “Treme” and “All the King’s Men.” A 10-time Grammy nominee, Joel is also a two-time winner of the Cajun French Music Association’s Fiddler of the Year.
But that’s not all. The Savoy’s daughter, Sarah, moved to Russia then France, where she formed her own band — Sarah Savoy and the Francadiens. Their other daughter, Gabrielle, is an artist and photographer and also plays guitar. “I think they’re all amazing, and they thrill me so much,” Ann gushed.
As the matriarch, Ann has her own impressive legacy. She has an all-woman band, Magnolia Sisters, and has been nominated for four Grammys — two for the album “Adieu False Heart” with Linda Ronstadt. She’s also appeared as a musician in the film “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and was the associate music director of “All the King’s Men.” Her latest project — the release of her new book “Cajun Music: Reflection of a People, Volume II” (volume one was published in 1984). “It’s a music book, a history book, an anthropological study of the Cajun people. You might call it a bible of the Cajun music,” she said with a chuckle.
ON THE HIDEAWAY
Hideaway on Lee (Hideaway on Lee Facebook page)Wilson Savoy has now added restaurateur to his resume. In the summer of 2020, he launched Hideaway on Lee, a bar, restaurant and music venue, along with partners David Livingston, owner and engineer at Lonesome Whistle Recording, and Line Livingston, DJ and music industry professional. “We wanted to create a space where we could have all three of our favorite things — food, music and cocktails,” Wilson explained.
The partners purchased a circa 1905 house at 407 Lee Avenue in downtown Lafayette, completely renovating it and adding a porch and music stage. Inspired by historic hotel bars, Hideaway on Lee offers seasonally-inspired classic and original cocktails like absinthe-minded (Absinthe Ordinaire liqueur, Bulleit Bourbon, pomegranate, simple syrup and soda) and Hadacol Boogie (Peychauds Aperitivo liqueur, elderflower liqueur, soda and brut). The food menu is dedicated to American fare — classic burgers, plus creative options like the aioli blon (smash burger with truffle aioli, Swiss cheese and mushrooms). And creations like the surfin’ la (seared ahi tuna steak, cucumber, carrots, lettuce, red onion, bread and butter jalapenos with a ponzu vinaigrette).
Onstage, you’ll find local fan favorites such as Radio Zydeco, Horace Trahan, the Rayo Brothers, Ray Boudreaux and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. And, of course, the Savoy Family Band and Joel Savoy make appearances. Proud mom Ann Savoy describes it as “the most fun place I’ve been in Lafayette.” Coming from her, that’s the highest compliment.
ON ANTHONY BOURDAIN
As world-renowned musicians, the Savoys have met plenty of famous people. But one made a particular impact on the Savoy Family — the late Anthony Bourdain, star of “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” and “Parts Unknown.” Joel met Bourdain through a mutual friend, “Treme” creator David Simon, who invited Bourdain to a boucherie at Joel’s Eunice home. The Savoy Family Band played at the event and ended up in a “No Reservations” episode. “We did a big party in Joel’s yard that day, and Anthony talked to us and interviewed us,” Ann said.
Bourdain enjoyed hanging with the Savoys so much that he returned to Acadiana twice more. The last occasion was to film a “Parts Unknown” episode on Cajun Mardi Gras in February 2018. That time, Wilson noticed a change in Bourdain’s demeanor. “The first time he came for the boucherie, I could tell he was really excited and happy to be there,” Wilson reflected. “The last time when he came for Mardi Gras, he seemed off, and the spark we had seen in him from before was missing.”
Tragically, Bourdain committed suicide four months later in a French hotel room on June 8. “He was just such a lovely, smart guy,” Ann recalled fondly. “He was just so much fun. I loved talking to him. He was serious, but he was loose and pretty much accepting of everything.”