Biography

LISA HALEY - BIOGRAPHY
GRAMMY Nominee “Americana/Cajun/Zydeco category”
"Joyful, exotic... a la the bluesy moans of Janis Joplin..." - Los Angeles Times
The most joyful Americana/Cajun/Zydeco act on tour today – prepare to catch "Zydecosis!"

Since beginning in 1995, Lisa Haley & the Zydekats are today the world’s most beloved Americana/Cajun/Zydeco band. Lisa’s newest album, “Joy Ride,” promises to take her genre to new heights. Charting on Billboard 2008 with Grammy® nominated “King Cake” and 2011 with “Absolutely Live!” Lisa exemplifies Americana with her blue violin and soaring, compelling “cornbread” voice. When Lisa and the Zydekats hold court in the "One World Swamp," worlds collide!

Her original tunes and Louisiana Bayou, French Celtic, R&B and Jazz rhythms represent Zydeco for GRAMMY Museum, Hollywood Bowl Summersounds, Sir George Martin’s (Beatles producer) “Rhythm of Life,” and festivals in over 20 countries. Among her fans are Keb’Mo’ and Little Richard.

Bringing modern Roots music to a wide audience reaches far beyond solely traditional genre.
With a combination of finesse and bombardment that rewrites audience perception, Lisa brings down the walls of Cajun/Zydeco convention with her blue violin “Louie,” conveying our shared human emotion
- a cultural journey transforming over time.

• New CD #8 “Joy Ride” released May 15, 2012, Wendy Waldman producing.
• GRAMMY-Nominated “King Cake” and 7th CD “Absolutely Live!” on Billboard World Chart
• Representing Zydeco for GRAMMY Museum, Hollywood Bowl Summersounds,
Sir George Martin’s (Beatles producer) “Rhythm of Life,” and festivals in over 20 countries.
• Two women in our five-piece band, with Lisa Haley violin, and Gigi Rabe “The Accordion Diva.”

A fourth-generation fiddler, Lisa’s mother’s family were Irish immigrants, arriving in Roddy Bayou, Louisiana in 1718 to escape a Donnegal, Ireland smallpox epidemic. Close on their heels came the French Diaspora of the late 1700’s; they soon married into the LeBoeuf, Broussard, Lambert and Thibodaux families. Born in Delaware to expatriate Southern parents serving in the Navy Reserves and Pentagon, Lisa is a descendant of Francis Scott Key; also kin to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bill Haley, and Pocahontas. She spent much of her early life in the South and began performing at age four.

Soon after, the family moved near Hollywood, California for her mother’s health, where Mickey Mouse Show producer Bob Holoboff offered to make Lisa a Mousekateer. Her parents politely declined, thinking it no life for a young lady. Cajun music was confined to her research scientist father’s home laboratory - Lisa’s parents decided on a respectable career in classical music for their children - but immersion with Southern relatives reinforced her musical heritage.

Following entrée at age 17 to the Hollywood music scene as music director for an Operetta company, Lisa turned down a classical music college scholarship, favoring her more passionate calling: Americana/Cajun/Zydeco’s potential as a World Music.

A member of the surrounding Louisiana-expatriate community, Lisa flourished under the mentorship of several Cajun/Zydeco accordion legends:
• Queen Ida - GRAMMY Winner (grew up in Daly City, CA,)
• Danny Poulard (40 year resident of San Francisco, CA.) and
• Joe Simien (50 year resident of South Los Angeles, CA.)

The protégé and “adopted daughter” of Joe Simien, Lisa performed the “Cajun Way” with his band for 15 years. With Queen Ida, Lisa toured the US, Canada and Europe to favorable reviews. She also toured with GRAMMY Winner Rockin' Sydney ("Don't Mess with My Toot-toot") and Al Rapone, and learned fiddle secrets from Cajun Fiddle master Canray Fontenot. She was lauded by songwriting icon Harlan Howard as “the lady with the Cajun fire in her belly!”

Springboarding to her own "Lisa Haley & the Zydekats" in 1994, she performs with a combination of finesse and bombardment that rewrites audience perception of her instrument.

• Work with multi-Grammy winner/producer KebMo', Queen Ida, Brian Setzer, John Hiatt, Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Dave Koz, Al Rapone, Rockin' Sydney, Joe Simien.
• Music director, Emmy-winning "Late Mr Pete Show."
• In films Beverly Hillbillies Movie, Man in the Moon, Red Dragon, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and more, soundtrack on film “The Waterboy.”
• Representing Cajun/Zydeco in Beatles producer Sir George Martin film, “Rhythm of Life.”
• On NBC-TV’s “Las Vegas - Mardi Gras Episode” playing her Zydeco and with Little Richard.
• Featured in Hollywood Bowl Summersounds, presented by the L.A. Philharmonic Assn, a theatrical production based on 10 of Lisa’s songs.

Lisa’s All-Star band “the Zydekats” includes:
• Chuck Alvarez, guitar (Tim Weisberg/ The Emotions);
• Gigi “Gee” Rabe, “Accordion Diva” for Micky Dolenz (Monkees) /Never Shout Never
• Andy Anders, bass (Joe Simien/T Lou/The Platters); and
• Chris Ross, drums (Kenny Loggins/ Mick Taylor/Bonnie Bramlet)

Discography:
• Joy Ride (2012) on Blue Fiddle Records (produced by Wendy Waldman)
• Absolutely Live! (2009) on Blue Fiddle Records
• King Cake (2008) GRAMMY Nominee on Blue Fiddle Records (produced by Sylvia Massy)
• All the Way Live! (2006) on Blue Fiddle Records
• Reggie Alligator (2005) single on Blue Fiddle Records
• Talking to the Sun (2002) on Ryko/Warner (produced by Keb’Mo’)
• Louisiana (2000) on Corazong Records Europe
• The Music of Joe Simien (1999) on Blue Fiddle Records
• Waiting for the Sky (1997) on Blue Fiddle Records
• Lisa Haley & the Zydekats (1995) on Blue Fiddle Records

Member: NARAS (Recording Academy/GRAMMYs); President, Freelance Musicians Assn-L.A.; BMI; RAAD (Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving); LA County Arts Commission Grant Program, Brad Pitt’s “Make It Right New Orleans,” Nicolette Larson Memorial UCLA Childrens’ fund.

Mentorship / Educational Artist In Residence Programs for Louisiana Music and Culture K-12.
Clients include GRAMMY In The Schools and Artist In Residence Programs in the US.

Endorsements: David Gage pickups, Barcus Berry/Fender/SWR, Yamaha, Korg, Peavey, JBL,
Hohner, DW, Paiste, Thomastik strings, ProCo, ProTek, Snark.

For Booking Inquiries, please contact:
Andy Anders, Blue Fiddle Productions - “Full-service booking since 1984”
310-676-4884 / info@lisahaley.com / www.lisahaley.com

The ultimate compliment: "That girl plays as good as a man!"
Clifton Chenier, "King of Zydeco"