1998 marked the creation of a new Cajun band in South Louisiana! "Louisiana's KINGFISH", the band, was new... but among its members are some talented musicians who have shared the stage together for nearly thirty years. Most being natives of South Louisiana, their Cajun Heritage and musical experience combine to produce a driving sound that captures the feel of their "way of life" in the Deep South.
Louisiana's KINGFISH has developed an appealing menu of songs blending CAJUN, ROCK-N-ROLL, ZYDECO, COUNTRY and PURE RHYTHM AND BLUES. Their songlist includes several original selections, popular with their audiences, and has helped to define their unique "ZYDE-CAJUN-COUNTRY" sound.
Guitarist and songwriter/vocalist DAVE SAVARIO began playing professionally in the mid-1970's, along with drummer DALE DOUGAY and bassist/vocalist ROB BROUSSARD. Together, the three helped form the bluegrass band JAVELINA, which evolved into a five-piece "electric bluegrass" group, touring Louisiana and Texas for five years.
In the late 1980's, SAVARIO and DOUGAY, along with future Louisiana's Kingfish member CHRIS MILLER, began making music as THE LIFTERS. Their chemistry was evident as some of their original material was selected for airplay on NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO. During this period, BROUSSARD played in Louisiana dance bands, including JUS' BLUFFIN' and DOMINO.
In the Spring of 1998, the opportunity arose for these gifted musicians to combine their talents to form Louisiana's KINGFISH. Shortly thereafter, the band recruited the services of a dancing scrub-board player, ROBBY DUBOIS. He not only provides percussion on many of the band's songs, but also enjoys involving the crowd, as he invites members of the audience to try their hands on the cajun "froittoire", or rub-board.
In 2003, following the departure of original member CHRIS MILLER, accordion-player AARON ISTRE and fiddler-guitarist RICK SPRAGUE joined the mix, adding a fullness to the already dynamic sound and bringing their own individual styles to the stage. ISTRE (pronounced "EAST") had been performing most recently with the cajun group "Garrett Judice and the Coullions", while SPRAGUE brings with him years of experience performing with Bluegrass, Rock, Blues, Cajun and Swamp-Pop bands, including "Big Ike Lake City Blues, "Little Chenier Playboys" and "Clear Roads".
The popularity that these individual members have enjoyed over the years has enabled the group to find audiences waiting anxiously for their next performance. Their love for their CAJUN HERITAGE is quite evident, as it helps to convey images of "life in South Louisiana" through GREAT MUSIC. |