The White House · 2018

“Son, your music got soul and your soul got music.”

My music has brought me around the world. In 2018, as a last-minute replacement, I got to play at the White House for Donald Trump. He stood there listening. When I finished, those were his words.

President Donald J. Trump — 2018

About Roland

Roland Cheramie — “Picajean” to folks around Golden Meadow — is a Cajun fiddler and culture teacher from Bayou Lafourche. He plays traditional soulful Cajun French music: high-pitch fiddle, sung in French and English, the waltzes and two-steps people still request by name.

Cheramie means dear friend. Cher ami.

This is not the tourist version. The work is about keeping language, tune, and place together so the next dance still knows where it came from.

Lâche pas la patate.

Don’t drop the potato. You don’t quit!

The Red Chevy

It wasn’t till November 10, 1995 that I decided to start learning rhythm guitar. My cousin Wesley Gaspard came pick me up to go ride the town in his old Red Chevy truck. He popped in a cassette of Kristi Guillory and Reveille. He’s going 30 mph so I can’t jump out. Then a song came on that she sang about us needing to be proud of our culture, our language, and our music. I looked at my cousin — he’d been playing accordion since he was nine — and said, “Let’s go to your grandpa’s. I want to learn guitar.” My godmother bought me my first guitar.

The Balfa Record

Then November 11, 1996, my father had bought a fiddle. I grabbed that fiddle, put an old Dewey Balfa Record on the record player, and started trying to match the notes. I was self-taught on fiddle and vocals.

Cajun Toujours

We made a family band shortly after that. I named it Cajun Toujours. We played boucheries, birthdays, political rallies, and benefits for people in need. With the family we also fronted George Strait at Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis.

The Rajun’ Cajun

Also in September 1996 I became a morning show host for a French program on KLEB 1600 AM, which would then become the Rajun’ Cajun — 100.3 FM / KLEB 1600 AM.

Recordings

My first recording was our family band, Cajun Toujours — Arrête Pas la Musique. Then Lafourche Cajun Band, where I played triangle. With Étouffée Cajun Band I played and recorded on triangle. Then Veillée, Une Autre P’tite Bouteille, and Poche Vide Playboys.

Classrooms and cameras

I’ve been in over 70 documentaries, and in an Academy, Emmy, and Oscar award-winning movie. I’ve done workshops and lectures at elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities. I changed careers and became a GM sales professional at Golden Motors, where I was their spokesman on the radio and still did shows from time to time.

On Record

Cajun Toujours — Arrête Pas la Musique
Lafourche Cajun Band — triangle
Étouffée Cajun Band — triangle
Veillée
Une Autre P’tite Bouteille
Poche Vide Playboys

On stage with

Lost Bayou Ramblers
Balfa Toujours
Chubby Carrier
Waylon Thibodeaux
D.L. Menard
Ray Abshire
Courtney Granger
Al Berard
Amanda Shaw

Where you’ll find him

Tropical Isle Bayou
Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant
Bayou Teche Brewery
Tigermen’s Den
The Maison on Frenchmen
Mardi Gras World

Still on the floor

I still play regular gigs at Tropical Isle Bayou, Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant, and I host jam sessions around South Louisiana — Bayou Teche Brewery, Tigermen’s Den, The Maison on Frenchmen, Mardi Gras World, and numerous hotels for private parties. I also teach Cajun fiddle to those who want to learn the music.

My passion — while I play blues, country, zydeco, and swamp pop — is the traditional Cajun music I learned from my family. That runs deeper than just the blood. It’s in the soul.