Biography
Ann Savoy, born Ann Allen on January 20, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Richmond, Virginia, grew up in a household steeped in music and poetry, which laid the foundation for her lifelong artistic pursuits. She was gifted a plastic ukulele at age 10 and became fluent in French by 13, an early sign of her deep connection to language and culture. Her musical journey took a decisive turn in 1975 when she met Cajun accordionist Marc Savoy, whom she would later marry, and moved to Louisiana in 1977. There, she immersed herself in Cajun music, shifting from the country blues, Virginia folk, and British rock of her youth to mastering Cajun guitar and becoming a celebrated practitioner of the genre. Savoy’s career is marked by her role as both a performer and a historian, recording over 20 albums, producing Grammy-nominated projects, and authoring authoritative books on Cajun and Zydeco music. Her work with the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, the Magnolia Sisters, and the Savoy Family Band has taken her around the world, and she is recognized as a matriarch of Louisiana’s folk scene, celebrated for both preserving and innovating within the Cajun tradition.
Fun Facts
- Ann Savoy’s first language was French, which she learned by age 13, and she later studied French literature in Europe, deeply influencing her artistic perspective.
- She is a four-time Grammy nominee, including for her work with Linda Ronstadt and the Magnolia Sisters.
- Savoy’s extensive interviews with Louisiana musicians form the basis of the Arhoolie Ann Savoy Cajun Interviews Collection, a major archival resource for Cajun and Zydeco music.
- She appeared as a musician in the films Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and All The King’s Men, and was associate music director for the latter.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Marc Savoy - Husband and mentor in Cajun music (Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, Savoy Family Band) [1977–present]
- Michael Doucet - Collaborator and influence in Cajun fiddling (Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band) [1977–present]
Key Collaborators
- Marc Savoy - Husband, frequent musical partner, and accordionist (Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, Savoy Family Band) [1977–present]
- Michael Doucet - Fiddler and co-founder of Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band (Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band) [1977–present]
- Linda Ronstadt - Collaborator on Grammy-nominated album (Adieu False Heart (as The Zozo Sisters))
- John Fogerty - Featured artist on tribute album (Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music)
- Nick Lowe - Featured artist on tribute album (Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music)
- The Magnolia Sisters - All-female Cajun band co-founded by Savoy (Multiple albums with the Magnolia Sisters) [1990s–present]
- Joel Savoy - Son and bandmate in Savoy Family Band (Savoy Family Band) [1990s–present]
- Wilson Savoy - Son and bandmate in Savoy Family Band (Savoy Family Band) [1990s–present]
Artists Influenced
- Cajun and Zydeco musicians - Inspired by her preservation efforts and all-female band leadership (Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People, Magnolia Sisters albums) [1980s–present]
- Linda Ronstadt - Collaborated on Cajun-inspired album, expanding Ronstadt’s repertoire (Adieu False Heart)
Source: Wikipedia
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Adieu False Heart | 2006-01-01 | Album |
| Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Music From The Motion Picture | 2002 | Album |
| Fais Do-Do: Louisiana Lullabies | 2019-11-29 | Album |
| Another Heart | 2024-04-19 | Album |
| Duets | 2014-04-04 | Album |
| If Dreams Come True | 2007 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Walk Away Renee (Adieu False Heart)
- Adieu False Heart (Adieu False Heart)
- I Can't Get Over You (Adieu False Heart)
- Les clos de coton (The Cotton Fields) (Love's Lies)
- Marie Mouri (Adieu False Heart)
- Parlez-Moi D'amour (Adieu False Heart)
- Too Old To Die Young (Adieu False Heart)
- Go Away From My Window (Adieu False Heart)
- The One I Love Is Gone (Adieu False Heart)
- Rattle My Cage (Adieu False Heart)
External Links
Heard on WWOZ
Ann Savoy has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.