More results...

Filter by Categories
Photo Galleries
Audio Interviews
The Frontera Collection
Close
Menu

The Ann Savoy Cajun Interviews Collection

Ann Savoy Cajun Interviews Collection header image with photos of Harry Choates, Boozoo Chavis, and Ambrose Sam

The Arhoolie Foundation is excited to announce the newest addition to our archives, the Ann Savoy Cajun Interviews Collection.

Over the past 44 years Ann Savoy has been interviewing Cajun musicians throughout southwest Louisiana. This collection is rare and special, as many of the artists she interviewed are no longer with us. To hear them tell their stories in their own voices is a journey to a world that no longer exists, a glimpse into Cajun history. 

A Cajun musician herself, Ann Savoy is uniquely positioned to compile this incredible archive, and saw the Arhoolie Foundation as the collection’s natural home. She recorded for Arhoolie Records for 40 years. She also contributed album notes and photographs for various Arhoolie Cajun music LPs and CDs. Chris Strachwitz has been a close friend of the Savoy family for decades, and Ann has enormous love and respect for the work Chris and Arhoolie have achieved over the years. It was, in fact, an Arhoolie Old Timey LP of Cajun 78 records that got her interested in Cajun music in the first place!

Arhoolie Foundation executive director Adam Machado recognizes the immense and singular importance of this project: “The Ann Savoy Cajun Interview Collection is a monumental achievement and contribution to the preservation of Cajun music history. We are longtime fans and dear friends with Ann and the Savoy family, and are honored to be the home of this archive.”

The Collection consists of over 200 recorded interviews, some in Cajun French. The Arhoolie Foundation provided a grant for its digital preservation, and is progressively adding the interviews here in streaming audio as a compliment to Ann’s seminal books: Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People Volumes 1 and 2, from Bluebird Press. The books contain text transcriptions of the interviews along with rare photographs, artist biographies, and more.

 

 

 

Comments (2)

Hello. I used to listen to what you all collect. But I moved overseas and now have nothing except a Cell phone. What can I do?

Hi Jeff,

You can listen to most of what Arhoolie Records released on YouTube. If there is something in particular, you should be able to stream any content that we have on our website on your phone.


Statement on the passing of Chris Strachwitz

Arhoolie Records Founder
July 1, 1931 – May 5, 2023

We celebrate the life of our founder, friend, and great record man Chris Strachwitz. He died peacefully at home in Marin County, CA, surrounded in his last days by dear friends and family. Over his 91 years, Chris captured the music that represents the best “down home music” the world has to offer.

He was at the forefront of nearly all the roots revivals over the last 60 years including blues, zydeco, Cajun, Norteño and Tejano music. His drive to document traditional music helped introduce the nation to our diverse musical heritage. He had the foresight to save music that might have otherwise been lost to obscurity and played a role in strengthening cultural traditions through his records, films, and most recently the Arhoolie Foundation. He cared for those around him, fought for royalties and recognition for Arhoolie artists, and provided counsel to countless musicians, writers, film makers, and academics.

Plans for a public celebration of his life will be announced in the coming weeks. Today we’re thinking of all that Chris brought to our lives and the lives of the musicians and fans with whom he shared his passion.

Support The Arhoolie Foundation