Bruce J. Hebert
December 11, 2006
Houma man leads police on chase
December 13, 2006
Houma musician Tab Benoit’s melding of country and blues rhythms on “Brother To The Blues” has earned the local guitarist a Grammy nomination.
A local blues icon, Benoit’s __ offering includes special appearances by country legend Billy Joe Shaver, songwriter Jim Lauderdale and fiddle player Waylon Thibodaux. But the pairing that may be just the push the CD will need to garner Grammy voters is with Louisiana’s Leroux.
“We’re surprised a country effort would ends up [nominated] in the traditional blues category,” said Rueben Williams, Benoit’s manager and co-producer. “We’re number one on the ballot and with Louisiana’s Leroux fans still out there n and ‘Louisiana’ on the ballot, we might have a seriously good shot at winning.”
It wasn’t a quest for awards, but an opportunity to record with his long-time friends, Louisiana’s Leroux especially, that attracted Benoit to the recording session.
“I never went out to make records for awards,” the Houma resident said. “I wanted to something different and have some fun with this.”
For Benoit, the “Brother To The Blues” CD proves his theory that all music has roots in the blues. He decided to go back to his early beginnings playing George Jones and Hank Williams tunes. “Some things that I’ve never recorded but always been a fan of and grew up around but have never recorded,” Benoit said of the selection.
“If I had announced that I was making a country recording ahead of time, the blues world would have been like, ‘What is he doing changing everything?’, Benoit said. “For 16 years, I’ve been recording blues records. I make a country records backed with Louisiana’s Leroux, a pop band with hits from the ’70s, and then I get nominated for a Grammy.”
Benoit first teamed up with Louisiana’s Leroux at a festival in Thibodaux, Williams said. In recent months, the band has relocated to Nashville, where band member Tony Haselden has tapped into a career as a producer and songwriter.
“It just felt right when Tab decided to go back to his country roots to team up with Tony and Leroux for this recording” Williams said.
And adding three seasoned country/Cajun artists n Lauderdale, Shaver and Thibodaux nonly solidified the sound, the co-producer said.
“The CD title really says it all,” Benoit said of the song collection. “Everything has its roots in the blues. Swamp pop, rock, you name it… it all starts with the blues. Everything’s related.”
Williams echoed that sentiment, noting country was originally termed the “white man’s blues” in its earliest beginnings.
“This was a chance to go back to the beginning, back to the root of my music and make sure I’m in the right place,” Benoit said.
“Brother To The Blues” is Benoit’s third Grammy mention. He contributed recordings to two compilation CDs that were nominated in 2003: “The Songs of Mississippi Fred McDowell” and “James Cotton’s 30th Anniversary.”
But this is his first nomination as the lead artist. “It may be the first time a Houma artist has ever been nominated,” Benoit said. “This may put Houma on the map musically.”
The Grammy awards ceremony will be held on Feb. 11. Williams said Benoit is considering taking a break from his West Coast touring to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles.
