Farnsworth Concert Preview: Lisa Haley and the Zydekats

The bio of this week's free Farnsworth Park concert performer, brought to you by organizer Robert Klomburg.  The concerts are held at 7 p.m. each Saturday at :

A Blue Fiddle Records recording artist, Lisa's musical upbringing combines multi-faceted genres of Americana, Cajun/Zydeco, Irish/Celtic, World/Pop, Folk/Bluegrass, Blues and Jazz genres, in which she is well-versed. The power her strong vocals, family songs and stories convey our shared human emotion - a cultural journey transforming over time.

A fourth-generation fiddler, Lisa's mother's family were Irish immigrants, arriving in Roddy Bayou, Louisiana in 1718 to escape a smallpox epidemic. Close on their heels came the French Diaspora of the late 1700?s; they soon married into the LeBoeuf, Broussard, Lambert and Thibodaux families. Born in Delaware to expatriate Southern parents serving in the Navy Reserves and Pentagon, Lisa is a descendant of Francis Scott Key; also kin to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bill Haley, and Pocahontas. She spent many days of her
early life in the South and began performing at age four.

Soon after, the family moved near Hollywood, California for her mother's health, where Mickey Mouse Show producer Bob Holoboff offered to make Lisa a Mousekateer. Her parents politely declined, thinking it no life for a young lady. Cajun music was confined to her research scientist father's home laboratory - Lisa's parents decided on a respectable career in classical music for their children - but immersion with
Southern relatives reinforced her musical heritage.

Following entrée at age 17 to the Hollywood music scene as music director for an Operetta company, Lisa turned down a classical music college scholarship, favoring her more passionate calling: Americana/Cajun/Zydeco's potential as a World Music.

A member of the surrounding Louisiana-expatriate community, Lisa flourished under the mentorship of several Cajun/Zydeco accordion legends:
o Queen Ida - GRAMMY Winner (grew up in Daly City, CA,)
o Danny Poulard (40 year resident of San Francisco, CA,) and
o Joe Simien (50 year resident of South Los Angeles, CA.)

The protégé and "adopted daughter" of Joe Simien, Lisa performed the "Cajun Way" with his band for 15 years. With Queen Ida, Lisa toured the US, Canada and Europe to favorable reviews. She also toured with Al Rapone
and GRAMMY Winner Rockin' Sydney ("Don't Mess with My Toot-toot") , and learned fiddle secrets from Cajun Fiddle master Canray Fontenot.

Springboarding to her own "Lisa Haley & the Zydekats" in 1994,
she performs a world-class show as ambassador of the "One World Swamp."

o Work with multi-Grammy winner/producer KebMo', Queen Ida, Brian Setzer, John Hiatt,
Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Dave Koz, Al Rapone, Rockin' Sydney, Joe Simien.

o Music director, Emmy-winning "Late Mr Pete Show."

o In films Beverly Hillbillies Movie, Man in the Moon, Red Dragon, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and more, soundtrack on film "The Waterboy."

o Representing Cajun/Zydeco in Beatles producer Sir George Martin film, "Rhythm of Life."

o On NBC-TV's "Las Vegas - Mardi Gras Episode" playing her Zydeco
and performing with Little Richard.

o Featured in Hollywood Bowl Summersounds, presented by the L.A. Philharmonic Assn,
a theatrical production based on 10 of Lisa's songs.

The Zydekats:

• Lisa Haley - violin and vocals (KebMo', Brian Setzer, Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Dave Coz, Queen Ida, many others)
• Chuck Alvarez - guitar and vocals (Tim Weisberg, David Benoit, musical director/guitarist for Grammy winners The Emotions)
   
• Gigi "Gee" Rabe, "L.A. Accordion Diva" for Micky Dolenz (Monkees) /Never Shout Never
• Andy Anders - bass and vocals (many traditional Cajun/Zydeco greats including Joe Simien; Joe Daly, The Platters)
• Maria Martinez - drums and percussion, New Orleans native (Rita Coolidge, Johnny Paycheck, Barry White, Angela Bofill, Klymaxx, Emmanuel, Trini Lopez, Peach, El Chicano, Nel Carter)