Biography
A six-member ensemble known as the Red Stick Ramblers delivers the evocative traditional Cajun repertoire of earlier generations in a manner that appeals equally to contemporary young audiences and their elders. Their programs also feature original material in a hybrid style the group labels “Cajun gypsy swing.” Linzay Young, a native of Eunice, Louisiana, serves as lead vocalist and fiddler while majoring in anthropology at Louisiana State University. Fellow fiddler Joel Savoy, who studies mathematics and French at the same institution, is the son of noted Cajun musicians Ann Savoy and Marc Savoy; the mother-and-son pair collaborated with Tom Waits on the Cajun selections that appeared on the Warner Bros. soundtrack to the 2002 film The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Bassist Ricky “Railroad” Rees, an English instructor at the college level who comes from Lafayette, has previously performed with the Bluerunners, Rockin’ Dopsie, and Buck Senegal. Drummer Glen Fields works at a music-store counter and has played in ensembles ranging from jazz to punk. Mandolinist and guitarist Josh Caffery, raised near Franklin, Louisiana, contributes articles to the Lafayette newspaper The Times of Acadiana. Guitarist Chaz Justus is the sole member whose livelihood is devoted entirely to music.
Several of the musicians first met while performing together in Baton Rouge with the group Brother Teresa. After the Red Stick Ramblers began attracting attention in 2001, they received bookings at the Festival Acadiens and the Festival International de Louisiane. Strong subsequent appearances brought further invitations to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, France’s Deferlantes Francophones Festival, Rhode Island’s Rhythm & Roots Festival, Florida’s Cajun/Zydeco Festival, and the Tropical Heatwave Festival, also held in Florida. Louisiana Radio Records released the band’s self-titled debut album in 2002. Bring It on Down followed in 2003, and Right Key, Wrong Keyhole appeared in 2005. The group then moved to Sugar Hill Records for the 2007 release Made in the Shade.
Several of the musicians first met while performing together in Baton Rouge with the group Brother Teresa. After the Red Stick Ramblers began attracting attention in 2001, they received bookings at the Festival Acadiens and the Festival International de Louisiane. Strong subsequent appearances brought further invitations to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, France’s Deferlantes Francophones Festival, Rhode Island’s Rhythm & Roots Festival, Florida’s Cajun/Zydeco Festival, and the Tropical Heatwave Festival, also held in Florida. Louisiana Radio Records released the band’s self-titled debut album in 2002. Bring It on Down followed in 2003, and Right Key, Wrong Keyhole appeared in 2005. The group then moved to Sugar Hill Records for the 2007 release Made in the Shade.
Albums
