Lots of performers come up with Christmas albums, so here is a quick list of some of the Zydeco and Cajun music CDs out there.
One of the earliest Cajun Christmas CDs was Jambalaya Cajun Band’s Joyeux Noel. Released in in 1994 on Swallow Records, the song list includes, Nöel Chez Pop et Mom (Christmas at My Grandparents), Le Petit Tambour, Si Loin Dans un Créche (Away in a Manger), Va le Dire À Tout le Monde (Go Tell It to the World), and Il Est Né (He Is Born) as well as others – 14 in all.
Swallow Records also released a CD called Merry Cajun Christmas with Michael Duocet, Belton Richard, Johnny Allen, Hasa Ortego and many others. There are 21 songs on the CD. Cajun Night Before Christmas is the lead song.
Clifton Chenier, Bayou Boudreaux, and Johnny Koonse are just some of the artists on the Jin label release Louisiana Christmas.
Santa Calus Wants Some Zydeco! is a compilation on Louisiana Red Hot Records. Jo Jo Reed, Zydeco Boneshakers, and Gerald Dunaway are just some of the artists featured here.
Travis Matte and the Zydeco Kingpins released a CD entitled Ho, Ho, Ho. Included are Zydeco versions of Feliz Navidad, The Night Me and Santa Claus Got Drunk, Christmas All Alone, Christmas Time Again. It is on the Mhat Productions Label.
John Ortis Tout Les Soir Cajun Band released an album called A Cajun Kind of Christmas which can be found on the MP3 page at Amazon.com.
In 2009, Hadley Castille and the Louisiana Cajun Band released Cajun Christmas on the Cobra Entertainment label. Once again, these are traditional Christmas songs and carols that have been set to a Cajun beat. The traditional Christmas Carol was a song for dancing. It is every bit appropriate that Cajun musicians have reset some of these songs for a two-step, a waltz or a Cajun jitterbug.
Information regarding a CD featuring Rockin’ Sydney was found with a song called Party This Christmas. The CD was entitled A Holiday Celebration, but this writer can find no other information regarding it.
Cajun Christmas contains fourteen traditional Christmas songs with a Cajun music twist. Jo-El Sonnier recorded the CD in 2006.
Geno Delafose, Wayne Toups, Lafayette’s Bayou Boys, Lee Benoit and others are on a CD called Cajun Christmas Nights, on the Sce label. The CD was released in October, 2012. Tunes include: White Christmas, Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Run Run Rudolph, and Oh Holy Night.
One of the most difficult albums to track down is by Robert Harris: Christmas Cajun Style. It is mostly comedy songs that are truly endearing. Included are: Boudin Balls, Steppin’Round the Pecan Tree, and Pinchon, the Pink Nosed Possum.
Alligator Records has a compilation entitled Alligator Stomp, Vol. 4, which includes Beausoleil, Jambalaya Cajun Band, Michael Fontenot, Johnnie Allen and others. Christmas Bayou, Blue Christmas, Bonne Annee , and Silent Night are all here.
Alligator Records also released a CD called Genuine Houserockin’ Christmas, a compilation of Alligator artists doing various Christmas songs. C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band plays Zydeco Christmas.
Camey Doucet, Tee Jules and many Cajun and Zydeco musicians are featured on Christmas albums. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it is something to get you thinking, looking and hopefully heading out to the local dance hall to pass a good time this Christmas!
