What does thinking of Louisiana bring to mind? Mardi Gras, Louis Armstrong jazz music, perhaps? But soon you might think of Marc Broussard, who boasts the pipes of a veteran soul vocalist and a musical styling that incorporates funk, jazz, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll.
The 22-year-old Louisiana native is no stranger to the music scene. He’s been submerged in it for the past 17 years.
Playing some of the country’s biggest clubs, including Washington’s 9:30 Club tomorrow night, Broussard is a touring machine. He spent most of last year opening for Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band and Willie Nelson before heading on the road on his own this year.
“Playing with those bands helped me grow as an artist — to see and be exposed to a level I’m not used to,” says Broussard. “Dave Matthews and Willie Nelson have surrounded themselves with great and talented people who have stuck by them through the years. It was a really cool experience working with them both.”
The Broussard name is huge in Louisiana, but not because of Marc. His father, Boogie Kings guitarist Ted Broussard, is a Louisiana Hall of Fame rocker and a household name in the Bayou. Playing gigs alongside his father since age 5, Broussard has encountered and been influenced by many styles; it’s become hard for him to even describe his own.
“My style is rooted in African-American music,” says Broussard. “There is a lot of jazz and blues music with a few moments of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s real, it’s honest.”
It’s hard to find an artist as polished and sincere at such a young age. Broussard’s lyrics and soulful vocals sound like they pour from the mouth of a man with a much longer life behind him. Maybe some of that has to do with maturing faster than most people or his being a father to 1-year-old Gavin. Growing up in a place with so much culture and great music, Broussard explains inspiration was easy to find.
“My father is definitely my biggest inspiration,” he says. “It’s a great feeling that my father decided to set aside his ego and have children and be a family man and support a family. It helped me get to where I am today. I never felt any pressure from him to play music. He would have been proud of me doing whatever, as long as I did it to the fullest of my ability.”
But lately, Broussard has been making a name for himself. With the release of his second album, Carencro — named after his Louisiana hometown — Broussard’s music hits the airwaves and makes noise in the national pop scene. He recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s, Jay Leno’s and Conan O’Brien’s late night shows performing his latest single “Where You Are” and “Home,” a track that showcases his southern roots and features his father. He even named Leno an honorary citizen of Carencro.
“The Conan experience was a defining moment for me,” says Broussard. “I was so proud of the band that I had up there with me and everybody that was there for me. I even got a little choked up watching it back the night before last.”
Now promoting his second album, Broussard is focusing on touring but says he has some hopes for future collaborations, including with the legendary Stevie Wonder, whose voice echoes throughout Broussard’s music.
“I just want to be able to do this, be a musician, for a long time and support my family through my music,” says Broussard. “I’m doing that right now, so my dreams have already come true — let’s just see how long it lasts.”
