WHIPPOORWILL ARTS FELLOWS
Cedric Watson
Cedric Watson is one of the brightest talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music; as a fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter, he has earned four Grammy nominations. Cedric’s repertoire extends from French & Spanish Contra dance to spiritual rhythms of the Congo to forgotten Creole melodies to Cajun and Zydeco tunes. As a songwriter, he creates a distinct sound that draws upon African, French, Native American, and Spanish sonic traditions.
PROJECT: Integrating Creole & African Diaspora Sonic Traditions
Reimagine liturgical and Catholic music for Louisiana Creole communities through collaborations with African diaspora musicians across the Caribbean and French Antilles.
Long influenced by Haitian culture, Cedric will reinterpret Creole music traditions on the fiddle, triangle, and accordion to include African hand drums to bridge Creole sonic traditions with a broader African diaspora.
