Lisa Haley & the Zydekats profile picture

Lisa Haley & the Zydekats

The Janis Joplin of Zydeco-Violin Queen! -LA Times

About Me

When the soaring, compelling “cornbread” voice of this fourth-generation fiddlist holds court in the "One World Swamp", worlds collide!
Lisa’s electric-blue violin, soulful songwriting, boundless energy and All-Star band “The Zydekats” is irreversibly addictive. An International recording artist with six albums to her credit, Lisa is associated with a list of who’s who in music.
- Lisa's soaring, compelling, cornbread voice strikes listeners square at our emotional roots. Strong vocals and original songs, soulful violin, and boundless energy attract the world to this fourth-generation "Fiddlist".
- Bringing modern Zydeco/Cajun to a wide audience reaches far beyond a career playing solely traditional genre. Lisa has worked with Sir George Martin (Beatles producer), multi-Grammy winner/producer KebMo', Brian Setzer, John Hiatt, and a host of others.
- The protégé of legendary Cajun accordionist Joe Simien, Lisa has toured with Grammy-winning artists Queen Ida, Al Rapone, and Rockin' Sydney ("Don't Mess with My Toot-toot".) Lisa appeared on the Emmy-winning Late Mr Pete Show (music director); in "The Beverly Hillbillies Movie" (Jim Varney); "Man in the Moon" (Jim Carey); "Red Dragon" (Anthony Hopkins); and on NBC-TV show Las Vegas, performing her original tune Zydeco Pas Salee and playing Slippin & Slidin with the legendary Little Richard.
- Her violin is prominent in "The Waterboy" (Adam Sandler), "The Grave" (Anthony Michael Hall), and HBOs Mr. Atlas (features her critically acclaimed song "Always Be Your Guide", which was also a contender for the ending song in Lord of the Rings III.) Her song Louisiana was featured on NBC-TV for the nationwide Hurricane Katrina benefit.
- Lisa stands out among the finest violinists and vocalists in contemporary music today. With five albums to her credit, including the upcoming "King Cake" album, Lisa ignites the spirits of Americana, Zydeco/Cajun, Christian, Jazz, Rock, and Folk fans. She supports educational Artist in Residence programs, and performs worldwide over 150 days a year with her All-Star band.
- Endorser: Yamaha & Barcus-Berry violins, Peavey, JBL, QSC, BBE, ProTec cases, ProCo cables, Thomastik strings.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/3/2006
Band Website: bluefiddle.com
Band Members: In Nomination for the new GRAMMY “Best Zydeco or Cajun Album” category.

- Lisa's band, the Zydekats includes:

Skip Edwards, keyboard/accordionist for Dwight Yoakam/Johnny Rivers;

Chuck Alvarez, guitarist for Tim Weisberg;

Andy Anders, bassist for Louisiana music legend Joe Simien; and

Maria Martinez, drummer for Rita Cooledge/Barry White/Johnny Paycheck.
Influences: Clifton Chenier, Doug Kershaw, Janis Joplin, Tom Petty, Queen Ida, Van Morrison, Satchmo, Sherryl Crowe, Buckwheat Zydeco, Bono, Sting, Santana

Sounds Like: Janis Joplin and Tom Petty - if they played Louisiana fiddle.
Record Label: Blue Fiddle Records/Ryko
Type of Label: Indie