February 19, 2008                                                                                                                                             Associate Director of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                               Phone: 253.573.2360

                                                                                                                                                                               Email: laceyl@broadwaycenter.org

Pine Leaf Boys Bring Authentic

Louisiana Flair to the Rialto Theater

Tacoma, WA – The Pine Leaf Boys bring authentic Louisiana flair to the Rialto Theater on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 7:30pm. With their youthful exuberance, Pine Leaf Boys’ repertoire includes many of songs of past masters as well as dance hall standards of Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music.

Hailing from the farms and villages of Cajun country, all five Pine Leaf Boys’ members -- Wilson Savoy, Cedric Watson, Jon Bertrand, Drew Simon, and Blake Miller – have been playing music since their childhood and are only in their early 20’s now!  As they make a name for themselves by preserving the traditional Cajun sound, Pine Leaf Boys bring their own unique sound to the stage as they play their twin fiddles, accordion, bass, and drums and often switch instruments throughout the show.   

Wilson Savoy, accordion, fiddle, and vocals, has known Cajun music since he was a young child growing up on a farm near Eunice, Louisiana. His inspiration stems from old and modern Cajun, Soul and Blues ranging from traditional Cajun to Ray Charles-Jerry Lee Lewis piano styles. Savoy has received an honorary state grant to study fiddle with legendary Ken Smith.

Cedric Watson, fiddle, accordion, and vocals, has studied “les veilles styles” of Canray Fontenot and Bébé Carriere. Watson regularly introduces new arrangements and original songs to the group based on his studies of ancient French and ballads of Blind Uncle Gaspard and Edius Naquin. Watson’s interpretations of melody and master improvisational skills are untouched by any Creole fiddler today.

Drew Simon, drums, accordion, and vocals, was raised in Lafayette, Louisiana and has played Cajun music since he was a small boy. Simon began his musical career playing drums with his brother in a local band called Acadian.  Today he plays drums, guitar, accordion and often takes stage as vocalist with Pine Leaf Boys.  Simon’s influences include Phillip Alleman, the Balfa Brothers and Lawrence Walker. Simon is currently a student at University of Louisiana and studies Louisiana Tourism.

Jon Bertrand, guitars, was raised in the thriving hub of Jeff Davis Parish that is Pine Island. He began playing guitar and has performed with Dexter Ardoin, Cory McCauley, and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Bertrand’s major influences are Cory McCauley, Harry Choates, the Hackberry Ramblers, Iry LeJeune, Austin Pitre, and Sonny Meaux.

Blake Miller, guitar and bass, began playing accordion at a very young age and supernaturally became fluent on the 10-button box. Limited by the diatonic squeeze box, Miller shifted his focus to the fiddle. Before even graduating high school in 2005, Miller became renowned as the ‘sought-after’ musician of Louisiana for accordion, fiddle, and rhythm/lead guitar. Miller now adds a new dynamic to the Pine Leaf Boys as a rhythm machine.

Tickets to Pine Leaf Boys are on sale now for $18, $24, and $34. Tickets may be purchased at the Broadway Center Box Office located on 9th & Broadway or by calling the Box Office at 253.591.5894. To purchase online at any time or for information about upcoming events visit www.broadwaycenter.org.

The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the following for support of the 2007-2008 Season: ArtsFund, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, The

Boeing Company, City of Tacoma, Forest Foundation, The News Tribune, Pierce County Arts Commission, Sequoia Foundation Pierce County Program, and Washington State Arts Commission.

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