Biography
David Doucet has elevated the acoustic guitar to a central role in southwest Louisiana's Cajun tradition. As the younger sibling of fiddler Michael Doucet, he has fortified Beausoleil—his shared ensemble with his brother for more than two decades—through a singular blend of folk fingerpicking and bluegrass flatpicking. His first solo outing, the 1991 release Quand J'ai Parti, brought him into his own spotlight.
A high-school football injury that fractured his arm introduced Doucet to the instrument during recovery. Songbooks by Bob Dylan and Paul Simon formed his initial self-taught repertoire, yet an encounter with a Doc Watson recording sparked his lasting interest in flatpicking technique.
In 1975 Doucet joined his brother and banjoist Raoul Breaux to perform Cajun material in Louisiana clubs. When commercial prospects faltered, the trio disbanded; Doucet entered college while his brother launched both the Cajun-rock group Coteau and Beausoleil’s original lineup.
A decisive shift occurred in 1980 upon hearing Clarence White’s work on the album The Kentucky Colonels 1965-1967. White’s unconventional chords and inventive melodic lines prompted Doucet to cultivate his personal approach.
Although absent from Beausoleil’s earliest Paris session, Doucet had entered the band by the time of its first album, The Spirit of Cajun Music, issued in 1976.
That same year, 1980, Doucet relocated to New Orleans—where he still lives—to assist with the World’s Fair. Beyond his solo record and Beausoleil contributions, he appeared on Grand Texas by Chuck Guillory, Ensemble Encore by Octa Clark & Hector Duhon, and Dit BeauSoleil by Michael Doucet.
Quand J'ai Parti also showcased fellow Beausoleil members Michael Doucet, Jimmy Breaux, Tommy Comeaux, Billy Ware, and Tommy Alesi, plus dobro stylist Josh Graves, whom Doucet met while touring on the “Legends of Folk Violin” package.
A high-school football injury that fractured his arm introduced Doucet to the instrument during recovery. Songbooks by Bob Dylan and Paul Simon formed his initial self-taught repertoire, yet an encounter with a Doc Watson recording sparked his lasting interest in flatpicking technique.
In 1975 Doucet joined his brother and banjoist Raoul Breaux to perform Cajun material in Louisiana clubs. When commercial prospects faltered, the trio disbanded; Doucet entered college while his brother launched both the Cajun-rock group Coteau and Beausoleil’s original lineup.
A decisive shift occurred in 1980 upon hearing Clarence White’s work on the album The Kentucky Colonels 1965-1967. White’s unconventional chords and inventive melodic lines prompted Doucet to cultivate his personal approach.
Although absent from Beausoleil’s earliest Paris session, Doucet had entered the band by the time of its first album, The Spirit of Cajun Music, issued in 1976.
That same year, 1980, Doucet relocated to New Orleans—where he still lives—to assist with the World’s Fair. Beyond his solo record and Beausoleil contributions, he appeared on Grand Texas by Chuck Guillory, Ensemble Encore by Octa Clark & Hector Duhon, and Dit BeauSoleil by Michael Doucet.
Quand J'ai Parti also showcased fellow Beausoleil members Michael Doucet, Jimmy Breaux, Tommy Comeaux, Billy Ware, and Tommy Alesi, plus dobro stylist Josh Graves, whom Doucet met while touring on the “Legends of Folk Violin” package.
Albums
