Red Stick Ramblers
Encyclopedia
The Red Stick Ramblers are a Cajun Music
and Western Swing
band who formed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
while the members were attending Louisiana State University
. Their name comes from a translation of Baton Rouge, which means "red stick" in French
. The current members are Linzay Young (fiddle
, lead vocals), Kevin Wimmer (fiddle
, vocals), Chas Justus (guitar
, vocals), Eric Frey (Upright Bass, Vocals) and Glenn Fields (drums
). Past members include Josh Caffery, Joel Savoy
, Richard Burgess and Ricky Rees.
The band plays a combination of traditional Cajun songs (sung in Cajun French
), as well as covers of Western Swing
classics (particularly the songs of Bob Wills
), Gypsy Jazz
tunes (a la Django Reinhardt
), early American jazz and blues covers (Stuff Smith
, Count Basie
, Fats Waller
and more) as well as dozens of tradition-inspired original songs.
The Red Stick Ramblers performed as the backing band on several tracks of Linda Ronstadt
and Ann Savoy
's 2007 release Adieu False Heart
.
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
and Western Swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
band who formed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
while the members were attending Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. Their name comes from a translation of Baton Rouge, which means "red stick" in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. The current members are Linzay Young (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, lead vocals), Kevin Wimmer (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, vocals), Chas Justus (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals), Eric Frey (Upright Bass, Vocals) and Glenn Fields (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). Past members include Josh Caffery, Joel Savoy
Joel Savoy
Joel Savoy is a Cajun musician and music producer from Southwest Louisiana. His father Marc Savoy, famous accordion builder and musician, and his mother, Ann Savoy, author and music producer, are well known ambassadors and supporters of preserving the Cajun culture.-History:Joel Savoy was born in...
, Richard Burgess and Ricky Rees.
The band plays a combination of traditional Cajun songs (sung in Cajun French
Cajun French
Cajun French is a variety or dialects of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana, specifically in the southern and southwestern parishes....
), as well as covers of Western Swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
classics (particularly the songs of Bob Wills
Bob Wills
James Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
), Gypsy Jazz
Gypsy jazz
Gypsy jazz is an idiom often said to have been started by guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt in the 1930s. Because its origins are largely in France it is often called by the French name, "Jazz manouche," or alternatively, "manouche jazz," even in English language sources...
tunes (a la Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
), early American jazz and blues covers (Stuff Smith
Stuff Smith
Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith , better known as Stuff Smith, was a jazz violinist. He is known well for the song "If You're a Viper".-Biography:...
, Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
and more) as well as dozens of tradition-inspired original songs.
The Red Stick Ramblers performed as the backing band on several tracks of Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
and Ann Savoy
Ann Savoy
Ann Savoy is a musician, author, and record producer.-Biography:Savoy was raised in Richmond, Virginia. She resides with her husband Marc Savoy and family in Southern Louisiana....
's 2007 release Adieu False Heart
Adieu False Heart
Adieu False Heart is a Grammy-nominated 2006 album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt featuring Cajun music singer Ann Savoy...
.
Discography
- The Red Stick Ramblers (2001) - Louisiana Radio Records (currently unavailable)
- Bring it on Down (2003) - Memphis International Records
- Right Key, Wrong Keyhole (2005) - Memphis International Records
- The Red Stick Ramblers EP (2007) - Sugar Hill Records
- Made in the Shade (2007) - Sugar Hill Records
- Red Stick Ramblers limited edition EP (2007) - Sugar Hill Records (unavailable)
- My Suitcase is Always Packed (2009) - Sugar Hill Records