Album Notes

Born in Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1953, cajun musician Wade Bernard grew up in the fishing village of Golden Meadow along Bayou Lafourche 50 miles south of New Orleans. He performed with cajun and swamp pop musicians throughout louisiana, recording for the Jin label in Ville Platte, La. in the 1960's and 70's. Moving to Nashville in 1981 he joined up with Grand Ole Opry star Jimmy C. Newman, touring the U.S. and overseas and regularly appearing on the Opry. Along with Newman, he has recorded with legendary cajun fiddler Rufus Thibodaux, Joel Sonnier(playing bass on his grammy nominated cd "Cajun Blood")and cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodaux. Now in his 14th year of recording and touring with country star Ronnie McDowell, he has performed, recorded or appeared with many country and rock and roll legends such as CarlPerkins,Brenda Lee,the Jordinaires, the Kentucky Headhunters,Conway Twitty, Mel Tillis, George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Price and others. He was also on the grammy nominated cd "All the King's Men" which featured Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana, members of Elvis' original group. He has appeared on TV and radio shows such as Nashville Now, Crook and Chase, Entertainment Tonight, That Good Old Nashville Music and Ernest Tubb's Midnight Jamboree. As a songwriter, his songs have been recorded by grammy winners "the Kentucky Headhunters", Opry star Jimmy C. Newman, swamp pop legends Johnnie Allan and Rod Bernard, cajun legend Vin Bruce and other Louisiana artists. Producing his own recordings of cajun, country, gospel and swamp pop music, he was nominated by the Cajun French Music Association for best cajun vocalist in 2001 and 2002, and in 2008 his cd "Une Belle Journée" was nominated for the People's Choise Award. To this date he has released 11 solo CDs. He has produced many CDs for Louisiana artists including 3 for Shreveport, Louisiana's legendary drummer D.J. Fontana on which he performed all vocals and bass. He has toured Canada, Central America, Europe and most of the United States trying to spread some of his Louisiana culture with his music on his Spoon Recording label. His latest release "Swamp Pop Café" pays hommage to the new Orleans style of rhythn and blues and rock and roll of the 1950's and 1960's. Think of the Fats Domino sound and you will get and example of swamp pop music. In 2007 he was inducted into the Louisiana Westbank Hall of Fame. He and his wife Cheryl, a native if Houma, Louisiana reside in Tennessee.