The Cayenne Cajun Band plays the French
dance music of
Southwestern Louisiana learned from the master Cajun and Creole players
the members of the band have had
the privilege of encountering over the years.
Cayenne is:
Valorie Dillon:
Accordion, vocals. Valorie has been playing Cajun music for many years
and was a founding member of the popular Seattle Cajun band Louisiana
Purchase.
Influences include Nathan Abshire, Aldus Roger, Milton Adams, Delton
Broussard,
and Bois Sec Ardoin. She's been offering Cajun vocals classes in
Seattle
for several years.
Jim Newberry:
Fiddle, vocals. Jim has a long history of playing appalachian old-time
fiddle and jumped in to Cajun music a few years ago. Cajun heros
include
Dewey Balfa, Wade Fruge, Dennis McGee, Cheese Reed, Hector Duhon, and
Willis
Touchet. He will occasionally change personalities and pick up a
Telecaster just to scare the audience.
Tony Mates:
Bass, vocals, MC. Tony holds up the bottom of the band and is the most
likely to be heard between songs. He's a man who can really take a
microphone
and run with it. Tony's well known around Seattle as a Dance Caller,
Bass
Player, Fiddler, and organizer. He also got his Cajun music wings in
Louisiana
Purchase.
Melanie Shelton:
Triangle (tee fer) and Rubboard (frottoir). Melanie helps keep the
tempo
with the traditional Cajun and Zydeco rhythm devices. She's a local
dance
authority and with the help of Valorie and Valorie's husband George,
gives
instruction prior to dances.
Nina Richardson:
Guitar, vocals. Nina got her start in Cajun music and dance by
attending
Louisiana Purchase and How's Bayou dances in Seattle. She learned the
art
of Cajun French singing in Valorie's classes. Nina's guitar playing
paves
a rock-solid floor for the rest of the band to dance on.
Rick Rice:
Drums. Rick is a recovering Rock and Roll drummer who keeps the rest of
the band from falling victim to any chaotic tempo vortex that may come
along.
