Jimmy C. Newman, Legendary Cajun Singer

For the past five years, the Acadian Museum in Erath, Louisiana, has conducted its Living Legends program. The series gives recognition to people who've helped to shape Cajun culture. During ceremonies held there on April 7, 2001, musician Jimmy C. Newman was the most recent honoree.

Born in 1927 at High Point, near the Acadiana community of Mamou, Jimmy C. Newman later memorialized his hometown in a song deceptively titled as "Grand Mamou" (it is a very small place!). Since the 1950's, Newman and his band, Cajun Country, have brought a unique style of music to audiences in America, Canada, and Europe.

In 1956, Jimmy C. Newman was inducted as the first Cajun singer on the roster of the Grand Ole Opry. Twenty years later, his rendition of "Lache Pas La Patate" (losh-paw-lah-pot-tot) achieved the only Gold Record status earned by a Cajun artist. Literally translated as "don't drop the potato", this song reflects Cajun French endurance and spirited attitudes. Newman received a 1991 Grammy nomination for his "Alligator Man" album.

Jimmy C. Newman's recordings span over five decades of work. His 1963 album "Folk Songs of the Bayou" is considered one of the milestones which popularized the traditional music movement. In 1992, he was presented a special award by the Cajun French Music Association for worldwide promotion of Cajun culture. Currently residing near Nashville, Tennessee, the Cajun singer still guests on the World Famous Grand Ole Opry Show and continues to perform on concert tours. Audio samples from his extensive discography are available in the Listening Room at the ArtistDirect website and other online sources.

Biographical stories maintain that the middle initial stands for "Cajun"---and even if that's just publicity hype, Jimmy C. Newman certainly epitomizes the Cajun music genre and is indeed a Living Legend.

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