Wayne Toups (born October 2, 1958, in Crowley, Louisiana) is one of the most commercially successful American Cajun singers. He is also a songwriter. Wayne Toups has been granted numerous awards and honors throughout his career including 2010 Festivals Acadiens et Créoles dedicated in his name, Offbeat Magazine Album of the Year recipient. Member of The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Gulf Coast Hall of Fame, and Cajun French Music Hall of Fame, 55th Annual Grammy Award winner.
Biography Wayne Toups was born into a family of rice farmers in Crowley, Louisiana. He first picked up an accordion when he was 13 and quickly began winning local accordion contests. He has combined Cajun music, zydeco, R&B, and rock into a genre he calls Zydecajun. He sings in both English and French.
Toups released his first album, Wayne Toups and the Crowley Aces in Europe in the late 1970s. He began gaining popularity in the United States around 1984 when he began performing at local festivals such as the Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette, Louisiana. In 1986 he released his first album, Zydecajun. The Cajun French Music Association's awarded him their "Song of the Year" Award in 1991 for his song "Late in Life." Three of his songs, including wedding favorite "Take My Hand", were featured in the movie Dirty Rice, and some of his work is also featured on the soundtracks for the movie Steel Magnolias and the television show "Broken Badges". He has recorded for the major record labels Mercury/Polygram and Mercury. His 1995 release, Back to the Bayou became the fastest-selling record ever for the independent Louisiana label Swallow Records. Toups has been featured playing the accordion on singles for many country music stars. He appears on the Mark Chesnutt No. 1 hit, "It Sure Is Monday"; on Clay Walker's "Live Laugh Love"; and on Alan Jackson's "Little Bitty". He played with Sammy Kershaw, George Jones, Mark Wills, Garth Brooks, and Ty England.
Toups is often known for wearing bright outfits during his performances. He has toured in over twenty-six countries, including in South America, Canada, Europe and the Far East. He has appeared on MTV and on the Super Bowl XXIV telecast.
Discography
Albums Year Single US Label 1979 "Cajun Paradise" Sonet 1986 Zydecajun Mercury 1988 Johnnie Can't Dance 1989 Blast from the Bayou 183 1991 Fish Out of Water 1992 Down Home Live! MTE 1995 Back to the Bayou Swallow 1997 Toups New Blues 1998 More Than Just a Little BTM 1999 The Best of Wayne Toups New Blues 2000 Little Wooden Box Shanachie 2004 Whoever Said It Was Easy 2005 Reflections of the Past D&R 2008 The Essential Wayne Toups New Blues 2009 Wayne Toups Live 2009 Swallow 2012 The Band Courtbouillon Valcour20132013 Live From Jazz Fest MunchMusic2016 Wayne ToupsJambalaya Music
Singles Year Single US Country Album 1999 "Free Me" 66 More Than Just a Little
See also History of Cajun Music List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music Cajun accordion
References
External links Wayne Toups