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The Ann Savoy Collection Goes Live

The Arhoolie Foundation is proud to make available new audio interviews with legendary Cajun and Creole musicians from the Ann Savoy Interview Collection. Ann’s collection consists of recorded interviews she conducted with musicians of French Louisiana over the past 45 years. Among the interviewees are some of the most significant figures in the history of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music.

The latest addition to our archives includes interviews from the first volume of Ann’s seminal book Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People (available from Bluebird Press). First published in 1985, this indispensable book features interviews with Dewey Balfa, Clifton Chenier, Canray Fontenot, D.L. Menard, Belton Richard, and many more. The interviews allow the listener to hear the voices of those who made the music while also capturing Ann’s graceful and insightful interviewing style.

Ann Savoy has been a vital ambassador of Cajun music and culture for decades. Her relationship with Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie runs deep. A forty-year Arhoolie recording artist, she currently serves on the foundation’s Advisory Board. 

Dear friends, 

We’re thrilled to announce that the Arhoolie Foundation and Les Blank Films are joining together to purchase our longtime home at 10341 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito. 

The decision to buy the building comes after several months of thoughtful consideration and a strong response from our community. It has become clear to us that continuing our work in the place where Chris Strachwitz originally conceived it is the best way forward for the organization. Staying in our longtime home preserves an important part of Arhoolie’s cultural legacy, prevents the disruption that moving would cause, and—most importantly—opens up possibilities for closer collaboration with Les Blank Films, Down Home Music, and our local East Bay community.

Now comes the hard part. While we are under contract to buy the building, we need to raise $2.4 million to meet the purchase price by April 15. Here are two ways you can donate to our cause:

  • The GoFundMe page for the capital campaign
    (donations to this fund are shared by all three of the tenants).

  • Direct tax-deductible donations/securities to either of the two non-profits who are buying the building:
    Contact Harrod Blank at Les Blank Films https://lesblank.com/contact/;
    or Adam Machado at Arhoolie Foundation, adam@arhoolie.org.

As we begin this capital campaign, we will continue our normal operations in the building while forging a closer institutional bond with Les Blank Films and taking modest, collaborative steps to bring more public programming into Down Home Music. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris’ tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture. 

We’re grateful for your support. We look forward to updating you on our progress in the coming weeks and months.