Bruce Daigrepont
Cajun Musician
United States
Bruce Daigrepont is the leader of the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band. Bruce and his band, who perform Cajun and Zydeco music sung in traditional Louisiana Cajun French, have toured all over the world. He has recorded five albums, including his most recent, Jamais De La Vie, which features 21 tracks of solo accordion and vocal performances.
Bruce was born in New Orleans, and his family were Cajuns who had migrated from rural Louisiana to the city during the Great Depression. Bruce’s parents speak Cajun French, and the family home always had a dish of traditional Cajun gumbo cooking on the stove. His interest in music was handed down from his father, and he started playing the guitar when he was 5 years old. As a teenager, Bruce was a member of a bluegrass band. He attended the annual Festival Arcadians in Lafayette in 1978 and was so inspired that he decided to learn the French accordion and form his own Cajun band.
Bruce performs because he is passionate about sharing Cajun culture and heritage. He likes to experiment to an extent, but he is keen to “keep it Cajun” and doesn’t ever stray too far from the traditional style of music. When he gets on stage, Bruce feels that he is representing the Cajun people, so he always strives to represent them well and provide an informative and fun experience for the audience.