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Branson
• Profiles |
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| • Branson History • Branson Profiles • Branson News ____ Profiles Index • Pure Heart • The Horse Creek Band (an interview) • Going the Distance: Wayne Horsburgh • Cajun Passion: Cedric Benoit • A Deputy with Heart: Terry Wayne Sanders • Branson's Santa Claus: Greg Winters • A Jim-Dandy of a Gentleman: Jamie Haage |
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"'As God is my witness, I'm no angel,' 'Cause you know, I'm not the devil, I'm not Jesus. I'm somewhere in between. For me to do that kind of song, it's got to be straight from the heart."
So says Cedric Benoit [pronounced Ben'wah], a native of Kaplan, Louisiana, and leader of a talented group of musicians and dancers known as the Cajun Connection.
So, what should you know about Cedric? Well, first off, he's a family man. "I've got a great family. When you got that, you've got something to go home to," he notes, speaking of his wife, Anna Marie, and kids Rocky, Heidi Noel and Luke Lawrence.
When asked about his home state and culture, it's not hard to tell how he feels about the subject. "I always represent Louisiana. That's my mission in life. I love Louisiana. My goal in life was to travel the country and promote Cajun culture and my home state. Branson itself has been unbelievable. For the past 21 years, people from all over the US have been coming to Silver Dollar City to hear us do just that."
It hasn't always been easy. In 1986, Cedric was involved in a serious auto accident." I was out for a whole year. I broke my neck, had major surgery. Got the whole halo and everything." His next gig, in 1987, was in the Ozark hills of Missouri.
Never pretending to be something he isn't, Cedric refuses to change his accent or his culture. "But the thing is you don't take a beautiful accent like this and all it's broken words and all its French and English — you don't try to fix that. That's what I'm smart enough to know! I'm not going to articulate like somebody that I'm not. I could work hard and do that. It'd be easy."
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His dedicated fan base proves that others deeply appreciate his honesty.
Some, however, may enjoy the music and performances without realizing just how deep the music goes. "There's not words for it," Benoit explains. "From the time I wake up to when I go to bed, I'm there."
"I wish people would know the depth of the song writing I do," he continues, citing influences as diverse as Hank Williams and The Doors. "Right now I'm in the process of making a rock'n'roll album and I'm giving my heart and soul into this one particular project.
"And it's not going to freak people out. It's not laced with bad, vulgar language, it's not about that at all. It's intense. It's about situational people that I've met in my lifetime as well as myself. I'm really good at taking a look in that mirror and being very, very aware of the fact that I am definitely no angel."
What Cedric may not realize is that many people already know his heart and soul go into each and every performance.
Ultimately, it is this ability that sets Cedric Benoit apart — the ability to change lives by allowing an audience member to forget their troubles, if only for the duration of a performance, as they are immersed in a passionate soul.
December 1, 2007