Horace Trahan

Biography

Horace Trahan, a native of Ossun, Louisiana, began his musical journey early, purchasing his first guitar at age twelve and playing saxophone in fifth grade. At fifteen, he learned accordion from his cousin Felix Richard in Cankton, LA, booking his first gig within six months. By sixteen, he was singing Cajun music in French and English, played bass drum in Carencro High School's marching band, and after graduating, toured extensively with D.L. Menard at eighteen, performing in New York, Boston, Chicago, Canada, France, California, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[1][3]

In 1996, at age twenty, Trahan released his debut album Ossun Blues on Swallow Records, followed by forming The Ossun Express band (accordion, fiddle, guitar, bass, drums, sometimes triangle), which gained local fame without recording. In 2000, he revamped it as The New Ossun Express and recorded Get On Board on Zydeco Hound label; in 2001, Reach Out and Touch a Hand, later renamed That Butt Thing after its hit single, now owned by Flat Town Music Company. His style blends traditional Cajun with zydeco, Creole, blues, and rock-n-roll, renowned for powerful accordion and vocals.[1][3][4]

Trahan's later career includes successful releases on his own Until The End label: Keep Walking (2010), Christmas In Every Way (2012), All The Way (2017), and the 2013 cover album By Special Request on Maison de Soul. A 2013 documentary Cajun and Creole: Black and White, produced by his wife Chantelle Trahan, explores his Cajun roots and ties to Creole father-in-law Rodney Bernard. With over 50 years in music, he remains a respected pioneer.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• Booked his first accordion gig just six months after starting lessons at age 15.
• Toured to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta with D.L. Menard.
• His 2001 album was renamed That Butt Thing by owner Fred Charlie after its hit single.
• Produced a 2013 documentary with his wife highlighting Cajun-Creole musical and cultural ties via his father-in-law Rodney Bernard.

Associated Acts

• Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express - eponymous, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Felix Richard - Accordion teacher and first cousin (Initial accordion lessons) [Age 15 (early 1990s)]
• D.L. Menard - Early touring band leader and mentor (1996 CD on Swallow Records; tours to NY, Boston, etc.) [Age 18 (mid-1990s)]

Key Collaborators

• D.L. Menard - Touring and recording partner (1996 Swallow Records CD) [1990s]
• The Ossun Express / New Ossun Express - Band leader with members on fiddle, guitar, bass, drums, triangle (Get On Board (2000), That Butt Thing (2001)) [Late 1990s-2000s]
• Rodney Bernard - Father-in-law, scrubboard player, featured in documentary (Cajun and Creole: Black and White (2013)) [2010s]
• Chantelle Trahan - Wife and documentary producer (Cajun and Creole: Black and White (2013)) [2013]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. That Butt Thing (That Butt Thing)
2. Monkey and the Baboon (That Butt Thing)
3. Uncle Bud (That Butt Thing)
4. People Here Know How to Party (All the Way)
5. Comin' Home Tomorrow (That Butt Thing)
6. Pointe aux pins (That Butt Thing)
7. We Gonna Party on Down (That Butt Thing)
8. The Back Door (By Special Request)
9. Big Booty Judy (Until the End)
10. Reach Out & Touch a Hand (That Butt Thing)

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz