NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/07/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Willie Mae Kennedy of Natchitoches and Floyd Soileau of Ville Platte were recently inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center's Hall of Master Folk Artists at Northwestern State University.

Kennedy was honored for her many years of singing traditional African American gospel. Soileau was recognized for his contribution to the documentation, presentation, and preservation of Louisiana music.

While performing with the Gospelrettes (Mertis Redden, Vermeda Fisher, Lillian Baptiste, and Sarah LaCaze), Kennedy traveled throughout the ArkLaTex area, with special performances at the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. She retired from the group after 50 years, but continues to sing African American gospel in various venues.

Kennedy began singing at age eight in church and with her aunts and grandmother. She has sung with many groups over the past 60 years, and her specialty has always been a capella music. She still uses hand claps and foot stomping in order to keep the beat in her songs though musicians who play the keyboard, drums, and guitar accompany her in some of her songs. She now performs as a solo act or with family members at churches and other events.

Kennedy believes that the Lord has given her a gift. More than one listener has told her at the end of a performance that he or she has been healed through the songs or has felt the call of Jesus, she said. Kennedy feels this is her anointed ministry, and that is what motivates her to sing.

Soileau founded Floyd's Record Shop in 1956 and Flat Town Music Company in 1957. He began a part-time job selling records to supplement his radio disc jockey income at KVPI in Ville Platte, Louisiana. Eventually he had to choose between spinning records or selling them. Soileau decided to leave the radio station in 1957.

Recordings of Cajun music were in relatively short supply at the time. Soileau recognized the necessity of recording the talent of the local Cajun and rock'n'roll musicians. His first label was Vee-Pee (as in Ville Platte). Other labels followed. The Swallow label (a play on the pronunciation of his last name) was dedicated to French language Cajun releases. The Jin label, named for his soon-to-be-wife Jinver, was used for Swamp Pop. Maison de Soul was the first record label dedicated to the soulful upbeat style of Zydeco.

Soileau has recorded such greats as Dewey Balfa and The Balfa Brothers, Nathan Abshire, Adam Hebert, Dennis McGee, Vin Bruce, Hadley Castille, Paul Daigle, Aldus Roger, Lawrence Walker, Austin Pitre, Belton Richard, D.L. Menard, BeauSoleil, Wayne Toups, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Jambalaya Cajun Band, Kevin Naquin, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Clifton Chenier, Boozoo Chavis, and Rockin' Sidney.

In September 2000, the Festival de Musique Acadienne (Cajun Music Festival) in Lafayette was dedicated to Soileau and his contribution to Cajun music. In 2001, Offbeat Music in New Orleans honored Soileau with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 40 plus years devoted to recording, producing, distributing and promoting Cajun French music.

The Louisiana Folklife Center (www.nsula.edu/folklife) at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches documents and presents Louisiana culture.

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