Event/Media Participation & Recognition:
Houston, Texas
Jr. Knights/Daughters Talent Competition Talent Competition Judge April, 1997
Poetry, short story and historical memoir composer/narrator:
Prejean Sonnier LeBlanc Reunion
Poetry and short story July, 2000
Ames, Texas
Kerlegon Breaux Norman Reunion Poetry and short story September, 2000
Houston, Texas
Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Custom Poem Founder's Day October, 2000
AKA Sorority Black Arts Tea Poetry April 22, 2001, Ensemble Theater Houston
20 Year Wedding Anniversary Custom Poem "Our Love" July 21, 2001
St. Andrews Church Choir Appeal Custom Poem "Voices Lifted" Nov. 11, 2001
Houston Blues Society International Blues Challenge Texas Regionals Judge Sept, 2004
Frenchtown Marker Dedication History/Custom Poem "Over Here In Frenchtown"
February 21, 2009
Los Angeles, California
Prejean Sonnier LeBlanc Reunion Custom Poem "Family Love" and Historical Memoir: Houston to Hollywood: In Search of Golden Dreams July 14, 2002
80th Birthday Celebration Custom Poem "Bird of Paradise" July, 2003
Las Vegas, Nevada July 2004 Prejean Sonnier LeBlanc Reunion Poetry "A Race To Run"
Radio /TV Programs/Newpapers: Houston, Texas
Life To The Full - Guest on Catholic Radio Program hosted by Madeline Johnson aired July 29, 2001 as follows: 6 am KCOH (1430) AM Houston, 7:15 am KGBC (1540) AM Galveston, 10 am KPVU (91.3) FM Prairie View,3:45 pm KYOK (1140) AM Conroe, 7:15 pm KWWJ (1360) AM Baytown
Life To The Full - Guest on Catholic Radio Program hosted by Madeline Johnson aired August 26, 2001 as follows: 6 am KCOH (1430) AM Houston, 7:15 am KGBC (1540) AM Galveston, 10 am KPVU (91.3) FM Prairie View, 3:45 pm KYOK (1140) AM Conroe, 7:15 pm KWWJ (1360) AM Baytown
Let's Talk Zydeco - Guest on 97.9 FM The Box Houston, Texas radio program hosted by "Sly Guy" Michaels live broadcast on October 7, 2001 Lake Charles, Louisiana
Zydeco Radio Program - Guest on 105.3 FM Lake Charles, Louisiana radio program hosted by Cullen Washington live broadcast on January 19, 2002
TV Show: KTRK Channel 13 Crossroads Melanie Lawson October 19, 2008 Houston, Texas - featured as a 2008 Creole People's Award recipient
Newspapers: Defender (Houston, Texas) - Featured in the October 19-25, 2008 issue, Chag's Place column as a recipient of the 2008 Creole People's Award
Houston Chronicle - Featured in the February 19, 2009 issue, Good Times To Roll Again In Frenchtown, featured on line February 26, 2009 at www.chron.com Heights/Neartown, Dedication ceremony
Award: 2008 Creole People's Award presented Oct. 10, 2008 in Marksville, Louisiana by the Creole Heritage Center Nothwestern State University (Natchitoches, Louisiana)
Projects:
CD Projects - 20+ songs written in collaboration with 4 major international/national recording artists scheduled for release in 2006-2010
Song Collaboration with Skip Nallia (ASCAP registered songwriter/composer)Skip's recorded songs include:Grape Jelly on Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's Back to Bogalusa CD 2001 listen to sound clip at www.amazon.com co-written with Eric Demmer (current airplay US and 30 countries worldwide) Crusin' on Tommy Dardar's "Fool For Love" CD co-written with Tommy Dardar produced by two time Grammy winner Tony Brunagel (current airplay on XM Satellite Radio) Professional song (lyrics & music) demos by Denise & Skip available for recording Contact Denise (281-436-0405) or Skip (281-464-7127) Visit Skip's website at: http://www.skipnallia.com/
Narrator Credits: Live readings - Sonnier/Prejean/Leblanc Family Reunion July 2000, Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Oct 2000, Poetry Reading Ensemble Theater April 2001, Frenchtown historical marker dedication February 2009, numerous funeral/wedding anniversary/family reunion poetry/short story readings.
Recorded Spoken Word Credits:
CD - Songs: Louisiana Woman, Tailgatin', Zydeco Train (2000-2009)
Audio Books: Parle Creole French I and II (2006, 2008)
Books Published:
1) The Creole Chronicles, Volume 4,
Houston Frenchtown (October 2002) To request a copy from the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center (See the Creole Chronicles tab on the Projects & Publications pull down list) click here: www.nsula.edu/creole
- February 19, 2009 excerpt from the book featured in the Houston Chronicle newspaper article Good Times To Roll Again In Frenchtown. Also available on line at www.chron.com
2) Parle Creole French I (May 2006) Order at left
3) Parle Creole French II (Dec 2008) Order at left
4) Reflections: A Poetry Collection (May 2009)...Now available Order at left click the Buy This button below to pay by PayPal or to purchase and read the editorial review on-line at Amazon click the book name below. A collection of poems written over the span of 10 years. Many of the poems in the book are suitable for reading at a special event, reunion, wedding, anniversary, funeral, etc. Includes the most requested poems: Heaven's Gate and A Race To Run, poems celebrating Creole culture and heritage, poetry tributes to Henriette Delille (co-founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family), Saint Bakita (1st African Saint) and Dr. Martin Luther King. Also, includes poetry celebrating Our Mother of Mercy Church and Frenchtown (Houston). Be one of the first to own this unique book. See copy of book cover at left below.
The Creole Diaries (oral history) : Scriptwriter/producer Order at left
- Jan 2009: Denise Labrie's writings and Inez Prejean Calegon's oral history documentation about the 1927 Flood and migration from Louisiana to Texas cited in a book length study written by Richard M. Mizelle, Jr., Florida State University
Song Lyrics Recorded: BMI Registered Songwriter
Tailgatin': co-authored with Joe Sample recorded at Sugarhill
Recording Studio in Houston Texas, October, 2002 PRA Records. The fight rally theme song for the Houston football fans featured (2004-2009) at Pitts and Spitts Tailgating Booth at Reliant Park & across the USA. View Sugar Hill Studios press release click here: www.sugarhillstudios.com/news/news_joesample.html
Zydeco Train: Harold & Kumar "Escape From Guantanamo Bay" Movie (New Line Cinema) The song, Zydeco Train co-authored by Denise Labrie & Joe Sample featured in the driving scene (first song played in this scene) of the new movie. PRA Records (April 2008)
Zydeco Zoo: Starz TV Show Hollywood (Reality) 2008 co-authored by Denise Labrie & Joe Sample. PRA Records.
I've Been Good To You Baby, Learnin' To Live, Who's Cheatin' Who (co-authored with CJ Chenier) 2006 on the cd, The Desperate Kingdom Of Love (Harmonia Mundi/World Village Records)
Current airplay US and worldwide
I've Been Good To You Baby...plaintive, Who's Cheatin' Who...swinging mea culpa, Learnin' To Live (Livin' to Learn)...album highlight...great original songs
World Village Music www.worldvillagemusic.com (May 2006) Learnin' To Live...highlight Featured song on website: I've Been Good To You Baby
The Times-Picayune www.nola.com (April 29, 2006) I've Been Good To You Baby...dancefloor tempo, Learnin' To Live...easy midnight swing
Jambands.com www.jambands.com (May 2006) I've Been Good To You Baby...subtly assures hope
Zydecoroad www.zydecoroad.com (May 22, 2006) I've Been Good to You Baby, Who's Cheatin' Who & Learnin' To Live...impressive tracks
Dirty Linen Magazine www.dirtylinen.com (December 2006/January 2007)...11 of the bluest zydeco tunes ever recorded in the modern era...immediately captures listener's attention...this popular dance music can be just as meaningful and serious as any other...a great album...a ray of light
La Gazette Des Bayous www.bayouprod.com (December 2006) ...two very successful titles, Learning to live and Lost one to rivet. The album thus divides between original compositions coécrites in company of the poetess texane Denise Labrie
Amoeba Music www.amoeba.com The Fender Rhodes organ-driven "Learnin’ To Live" highlights C.J.'s early Motown influences
Learning To Live – this is another of C.J.’s & Denise’s tunes. This tune has a nice R&B feel to it, with a laid-back funky little groove going on. I like this one a lot. I think you will, too.
Who’s Cheatin’ Who? – Another tune by C.J. & Denise. This is a nice little zydeco-country-rockin’-blues tune. Think Chuck Berry with accordions – really! If your feet aren’t tapping to this one then you’ve got no soul; not even a little bit! I like this cd a lot, mainly because of the excellent songs and the burnished, soulful voice C.J. possesses
I've Been Good To You Baby - featured on the main web page for 2009 iFest Houston view at www.ifest.org/musicguide
CD Articles: Houston Chronicle May 31, 2006, Living Blues Mag. July/August 2006
The 3 songs are on radio playlists worldwide: WXPN 88.5, BBC Radio 2, OPB.org, RTE.ie (Ireland), Blues Deluxe, Audioe.com, KUSP, WGLT, KDHX, World Stage, WFUV 90.7, KPFK 90.7, KPFT 90.1 Houston Blues Brunch, WBEZ, WBAR, Musiques Du Monde Summer 2006, KLCC, WMBR, WZKE, WQLN #12 on Bop N' The Blues playlist Oct 2006 submitted to Living Blues Magazine 10/01/06 National Radio Chart, Roots Music Report (over 92 weeks on chart in the top 10) Blues DJ Report, JAZZIZ Magazine www.wqln.org WFMU, WNMF 88.5 FM, WITR, see other playlists..search song titles on the internet to view
Charts: CD in the Top 10/20 of the Bestseller Chart Harmonia Mundi over 6 mos (Sept-Nov 2006, Jan-Aug 2007) #1 KUSP Blues Chart (May /June 2006), EMusic.com Cajun/Zydeco Top Albums #13 of 107 cd's (May 2006), #2 (9/06) Roots Music Chart on chart over 80 weeks (12/3/07), Roots Music Report #10 on the Top 50 Chart Oct 9, 2009, KMUD in the Top 30 (twice in June 2006), Den of Blues Top 25 www.thewolf.com (submitted to Living Blues Magazine June 2006) #7 The Top Ten (week ending August 27, 2006) most air/Internet play for Zydeco music CDs
reported by almost 200 roots/Americana music stations and reflected on Zydeco music charts www.bluefiddle.com Emusic.com Cajun/Zydeco Most Downloaded #24 of 154 cd's (Nov 2006) #11 of the Top 30 Blues Spins WNMC Oct 7-14, 2006 Featured Album: WVKR www.folkrockandroots.orgwww.folkrockandroots.org (October 2006) Top Blues Picks www.bluesbeat.com (October 2006) Hot Picks Bad Dog Blues www.baddogblues.com (June 2006) Delta Frank's Top cd recommendations at www.bluesblowtorch.com (October 2006) Learnin' To Live #4 of Top 10 Artist Downloads (Audiolunchbox.com) Top 10 CDs 2007 Blues Art Studio Journal Jan/Feb 2007 www.bluesartstudio.com Pop Matters Picks Best World Music 2006 Top 10 www.popmatters.com Best of 2006: New Releases WFUV www.wfuv.org (Bronx NY)
CD Award: Coups de Coeur (Blows of Heart) Blues Category Award from l'Académie Charles Cros (November 2006) The Desperate Kingdom of Love (Major French Award) view at www.charlescros.org He (CJ) widens also his horizon with texts written in collaboration with the poetess texane Denise Labrie on musics in slow or average tempo
Newspaper/Magazines: People interviewed for articles: Galveston-Houston Diocese: Bishop Fiorenza, Madeline Johnson, Joe Sample (Creole Festival Cruise and Mardi Gras) Kermon Richard (Richard's Club). Robby "Mann" Robinson and Jeffery Broussard (Zydeco Force),Terrance Simien, Leroy Thomas (Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners) Brian Jack (Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers), Rockin' Dopsie, Jr., Dr. Harlan Mark Guidry, Dr. Michael White
Published Credits/Position: Eh Toi! Zydeco & Blues Magazine
Editor Guy Michael Anderson, Associate Editor Denise Labrie
Editor's Note (January/February 2003) page 4
Cover Story - Zydeco Force "The Force Is With You" (March/April 2002) page 12
Articles - Page 15:
- Our Mother of Mercy "The Community of French Town
Builds A Church" (July/August 2001)
- St. Francis of Assisi "Francis, Repair My Church"
(Sept/Oct 2001)
- St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church "A Church For
All Seasons" (Nov/Dec 2001)
- Creole Festival Cruise and Mardi Gras (Jan/Feb 2002) page 8
- Richard's Club "A Dance Hall of Fame" (March/April 2002) page 9
- St. Mary of the Purification Church "A Church For All Seasons"
(March/April 2002) page 16
- St. Monica's Catholic Church "Serving God and Community" (May/June
2002)
Featured Music Review - page 7 - Terrance Simien "The Tribute Sessions" (March/April 2002) Music Reviews - page 7:
- The Masked Band "The Creole Connection" (July/August 2001)
- C.J. Chenier "Step It Up" (Sept/Oct. 2001)
- Beau Jocque "The Best of Beau Jocque" (Jan/Feb 2002) Page 17
- Nooney & The Zydeco Floaters "We Bringing The Heat"
(Jan/Feb 2002) Page 19
- Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners "Somebody's Lookin' For
Ya" (March/April 2002) page 17
- Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers "Once Again" (March/April 2002)
page 19
- Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. "Rockin' Zydeco Party!" (May/June 2002) page 19
- Rockin' Sidney "My Toot Toot" (Sept/Oct 2002) page 17
- John Delafose & The Eunice Playboys "Joe Pete Got Two Women"
(Sept/Oct 2002) page 18
- Denise to Denise...Lady to Lady, Denise LaSalle "Still the Queen"
(Jan/Feb 2003) page 7
- Best Kept Secret "Steppin' Out" (Jan/Feb 2003) page 10
- Zydeco The Essential Collection (Jan/Feb 2003) page 16
- Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers "Getting Down to Business"
(March/April, 2003) page 8
Book Review - A Diadem in Creole Composition, Natchitoches and Louisiana's
The Creole Poet - Poetry page 8 Reflections of Narcissism (July/August 2001) Founder's Day (July/August 2001) A Race To Run (Sept/Oct 2001) A Creole Christmas (Nov/Dec 2001) Bon Nouvel Annee (Happy New Year) Jan/Feb 2002 page 10 Paques Benediction (Easter Blessing) March/April 2002 page 10 Mere Cher (Mother Dear) May/June 2002 page 21 Heaven's Gate (Sept/Oct 2002) page 21 Dawn...Aurore (Jan/Feb 2003) page 21 Oiseau Brun...(Brown Bird) (March/April, 2003) page 21
The Josephite Harvest Magazine To View Current and Previous Issue Articles On-Line Click Here: http://www.Josephite.com Click on Josephite Harvest to view
- Jr. Knight and Jr. Daughter Scholarship Article (June 2001 Issue) Page 25
- Josephite Returns To Celebrate 25th Anniversary (September 2001 Issue) Page 24
- A Cause for Prayer (December 2001) Page 22 - Parish Celebrates Sisters Jubilee Anniversaries (December 2001) Page 23 - Filling Life to the Full (March 2002) Page 5
- Hearing God's Call to Serve (March 2002) Page 9 - A Centennial Youth Celebration (June 2002) page 17 - Keeping Alive the Creole Heritage in California (December 2002) page 3
Bayou Talk July-August 2004 The Louisiana to Houston Connection visit www.bayoutalk.com
Port Arthur News Front Page, Saturday, November 16, 2002, Excerpt of A Diadem In
Creole Composition, Natchitoches and Louisiana's Timeless Cane River
book review
Zydecoach Newsletter To View This Southern California Zydeco Info Newsletter On-Line Click Here: http://www.zydecoach.com Poetry :- A Race To Run (Newsletter dated October 9, 2001 Volume 2, Issue 2) Page 2; Article - Richard's Club "A Dance Hall of Fame" (Newsletter dated July 21, 2002 Issue 30) Page 5
Program Participation: Available to read the custom composition during your event
Projects In Progress: Requiem Of A Dying Man: A Tribute To Dad
Louisiana Music CD, Zydeco Documentary Screenplay
Location of archived articles: Diocese of Houston-Galveston, Josephites, City of Houston, Northwestern State University
