Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet performs with David Doucet and Mitchell Reed

...from the 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Michael Doucet, fiddler, composer, and bandleader, is perhaps the single most important figure in the revitalization of Cajun music in the USA. Cajun is the shorthand name for the French settlers of southwest Louisiana who were expelled from the Acadian region of Canada in the 18th century. During the first half of the 20th century, both the language and music of French Louisiana seemed to be in decline. In 1975, Doucet applied to the National Endowment for the Arts for an apprenticeship grant to study with and document the master fiddlers of his region. As a result of this project, he was able to learn first-hand from the great masters of Cajun and Creole music with links to an earlier era.

Find Michael Doucets Smithsonian Folkways album, From Now On, at http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetai...

To learn more about Smithsonian Folkways visit http://www.folkways.si.edu
To find out more about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival visit http://festival.si.edu/
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  Music

[prayerangel1]

French bluegrass! Who knew? Very good!

[Brennen Webb]

BEAUTIFUL IS THE ONLY WORD THAT COMES TO MIND....THANKS FOR SHARING SUCH WONDERFUL TALENT

[TheMrgaztop]

Ca c'est bon Merci Beaucoup.

Gaz.

London England

[enailer1]

@fredcoonbanjo Did you know Dewey that must have and still would be an honour.I clocked him about 1989/90 and he blew my mind I just wish I had stuck in at French at school I can say 1 2 3 4 and avec

[enailer1]

jings! crivens! help ma boab, that was just so goody check Michael out on Trans Atlantic Sessions 2 with Sharon Shannon,Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas etc. Thanks for this vid.

[shelibeane]

Michael Doucet is my favorite Cajun musician...one cannot possibly listen to Cajun music and remain sad!! LOVE this--thanks for sharing this fabulous video Aieeee!!!

[seasaltandpassion]

I'd give anything to be able to do that! :-)