Horace Trahan

Horace Trahan, a Cajun singer and accordionist, transformed a slice of Louisiana history by reshaping its details into a personal challenge that enabled him to acquire another language. The episode dates back to the 1920s, when state authorities barred young Cajuns from using their ancestral tongue, the distinctive blend known as Cajun French. Schools enforced a strict English-only policy on every student, even those who had grown up speaking solely Cajun French at home and had never encountered English. Officials believed total immersion would accelerate mastery of English and better equip the children for an English-dominant society beyond the classroom. One unintended consequence was that Cajun identity itself came to be viewed with disdain. Whereas Cajun music and cuisine enjoy popularity today, the culture was regarded as especially unfashionable during that earlier period.

Although Trahan was too young to have lived through those years, he drew on his deep pride in his roots and resolved to master French. He created a self-directed immersion method in which he spoke nothing but French until fluency arrived. He now performs in both English and French while also writing material. His debut release, Ossun Blues, appeared on Swallow Records in 1996 and features lyrics in each language. The soulful approach prompted comparisons to Iry LeJeune. Raised in Ossun, Louisiana, close to Lafayette, Trahan received accordion lessons from his second cousin Felix Richard, who is likewise credited with instructing Zachary Richard.

Trahan’s initial public appearance as a vocalist and player occurred by chance. While he was playing informally at the Jean Lafitte Acadian Culture Center in Eunice, an employee at the nearby Liberty Theater heard him and extended an invitation. His deeply affecting performance of “Viens Me Chercher” prompted audience members to wipe away tears and earned a standing ovation. In the summer of 1999 he assembled the New Ossun Express and began steering his sound toward a zydeco direction. When some listeners resisted the shift, Trahan answered with the song “Don’t Worry About Horace,” which appeared on the band’s first recording, Get on Board. He followed in 2001 with Reach Out and Touch a Hand, which introduced the earthy number “That Butt Thing.” The album mixes original compositions with longstanding favorites by Clifton Chenier and Boozoo Chavis. The New Ossun Express lineup consists of drummer Paul Delafosse, guitarist Paul “Slim” Washington, and scrub board player John “Sheriff” Best.