Vin Bruce
Encyclopedia
Ervin "Vin" Bruce is one of the first Cajun
musicians to appear on the Louisiana Hayride
and Grand Ole Opry
.
). His father, Levy Bruce, worked as a trapper and fisherman, and played fiddle at local Cajun dances, usually held in someone's front room
. Being from a musical family, Vin's interest in Cajun music grew and at the early age of 10 he learned how to play the guitar on his own. He also learned to sing.
On October 22, 1951, Bruce signed a recording contract
with Columbia Records
in Nashville, Tennessee
and recorded all time popular Cajun songs such as "Dans La Louisiane" (1952), "Fille de la Ville," and "Clair de la Lune," recording with Chet Atkins
, Grady Martin
, Tommy Jackson, Owen Bradley
and Shook Jackson. Vin was one of the first Cajuns to perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry
and the Louisiana Hayride
.
In the mid-1950s, Vin's career took a downturn as Rock and Roll
became popular. Columbia released his contract, and Vin returned to Louisiana and raised cattle. In 1961 he signed a contract with Swallow Records
, and had a hit single with Jole Blon.
For his contribution and performance in Cajun music, Bruce is known as "the King of Cajun Singers" and has been inducted into the Nashville Music Hall of Fame, the CFMA Cajun Music Hall of Fame, the Westbank Musicians Hall of Fame, and was chosen the Lafourche Parish Citizen of the Year.
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
musicians to appear on the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
and Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
.
Biography
Bruce was born in Cut Off, LouisianaCut Off, Louisiana
Cut Off is a census-designated place on the Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,635 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area...
). His father, Levy Bruce, worked as a trapper and fisherman, and played fiddle at local Cajun dances, usually held in someone's front room
Living room
A living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
. Being from a musical family, Vin's interest in Cajun music grew and at the early age of 10 he learned how to play the guitar on his own. He also learned to sing.
Career
Bruce began his musical career playing guitar with the Southern Serenaders and the Hillbilly Swing Kings.On October 22, 1951, Bruce signed a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and recorded all time popular Cajun songs such as "Dans La Louisiane" (1952), "Fille de la Ville," and "Clair de la Lune," recording with Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, Grady Martin
Grady Martin
Thomas Grady Martin was one of the most renowned, inventive and historically significant American session musicians in country music and rockabilly....
, Tommy Jackson, Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley was an American record producer who, along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.-Before the fame:...
and Shook Jackson. Vin was one of the first Cajuns to perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
and the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
.
In the mid-1950s, Vin's career took a downturn as Rock and Roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
became popular. Columbia released his contract, and Vin returned to Louisiana and raised cattle. In 1961 he signed a contract with Swallow Records
Floyd Soileau
James Floyd Soileau is an American record producer.Soileau was born November 2, 1938, in Faubourg, a small community between Ville Platte and Washington, Louisiana. He grew up speaking Cajun French and did not speak English until attending school at the age of 6 years...
, and had a hit single with Jole Blon.
For his contribution and performance in Cajun music, Bruce is known as "the King of Cajun Singers" and has been inducted into the Nashville Music Hall of Fame, the CFMA Cajun Music Hall of Fame, the Westbank Musicians Hall of Fame, and was chosen the Lafourche Parish Citizen of the Year.
Discography
- 1953 My mama said I'd stay single
- 1961 Jole Blon
- 1979 Greatest Hits
- 1979 Cajun Country
- 2000 Essential Collection
- 2000 "Carousel for Two