Courtney Granger & Cedric Watson - Cajun & Creole Music of Louisiana (2025) Hi Res

This album brings together two masters of Louisiana's musical soul: Courtney Granger, a voice straight from the Cajun heartland, and Cedric Watson, a Creole powerhouse with a bow in one hand and history in the other.

Cedric Watson isn't just a fiddler — he's a four-time Grammy nominee, a singer, an accordionist, and a living encyclopedia of Creole sound. From rare Dennis McGee reels to forgotten Creole ballads, zydeco stompers to old-time string band tunes, Cedric plays it all. He came to Louisiana from Texas chasing the music — and made it his life. Along the way, he's recorded seven albums, played in 17 countries, and shared the stage with everyone from Corey Ledet to Les Amis Creole to his own group, Bijou Créole.

Courtney Granger's story is both triumphant and heartbreaking. Born into the legendary Balfa family, he grew up in Eunice breathing Cajun music like the rest of us breathe air. He played with Balfa Toujours, then spent 13 years touring the world with the Pine Leaf Boys, earning Grammy nominations and even representing Louisiana on cultural tours through Europe and the Middle East. His voice — deep, soulful, and rich with old-world Cajun emotion — could raise the hair on your arms. When he sang, you felt it. Every word. Every cry of the fiddle.

This project was a dream of Chad Kassem, founder and CEO of Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions and a proud Louisiana native who's made it his mission to preserve the state's musical treasures. Chad first heard Courtney at just 15 years old — already sounding like a seasoned Cajun elder — and he knew he had to get him in the studio. Cedric was a natural fit. Two traditions. Two masters. One unforgettable session.

And what they created? Pure magic. Cajun and Creole meeting like old friends swapping stories under the Louisiana moon. You'll hear the love, the respect, the shared roots in every note.

Sadly, this record would be one of Courtney's last. He passed in 2021 at only 39, after finishing these sessions in his beloved Louisiana. That makes these recordings even more precious — a final gift from a man who lived and breathed the music of his ancestors.

As Courtney once said, "I grew up playing with people in their 70s and 80s. That's what made me who I am today. I learned respect at a young age." You can hear that respect in every note of this album.

This is more than a record. It's a conversation between two traditions, a love letter to Cajun and Creole heritage, and a rare chance to hear Courtney and Cedric together — two of the finest fiddlers to ever draw a bow.