Albums

Cedric Benoit

“Cajun Showman & Branson Ambassador”

Quick Intro

Born in Kaplan, Louisiana (October 9, 1958), Cedric Benoit was an accordionist, singer, and songwriter whose high-energy shows carried Acadiana’s spirit far beyond state lines. A proud part of our label family through his Swallow Records LP Cajun! Cajun!! Cajun!!! and later releases carried in the Flat Town Music catalog, Benoit blended Cajun and zydeco drive with touches of country and Southern rock — the kind of set that turns a quiet crowd into a dance floor.

In-Depth Profile

Cutting his teeth in southwest Louisiana dancehalls, Benoit stepped onto records with the Swallow imprint in the late 1980s, delivering accordion-forward two-steps and waltzes built for weekend crowds. In the 1990s and 2000s he became a fixture in Branson, Missouri, fronting a long-running Cajun revue that introduced millions of tourists to Louisiana French music’s good-time heartbeat. Albums like Louisiana (a crowd-pleasing mix of Cajun, zydeco, and roots rock) and Songs from the Early Years (a songwriter’s look back) show his range: dancehall stompers, sing-along hooks, and sentimental ballads that still feel like home. After 30+ years on big stages, he retired from full-time performing in 2018 — a working musician to the last encore.

Signature Tracks

  • “Zydeco Time” — a punchy, accordion-driven floor-starter that locks into a two-step groove and never lets go.
  • “Living It Up in Cajun Land” — Benoit’s upbeat calling card: modern roadhouse shine on a Cajun backbone.
  • “Louisiana Lonely” — a mid-tempo, radio-sweet ballad with swamp-pop tenderness and Cajun color.

Notable Accomplishments & Awards

  • Swallow Records album release — Cajun! Cajun!! Cajun!!! — placing Benoit in the lineage of classic south-Louisiana artists on our label.
  • Three decades of flagship shows introducing authentic Cajun/zydeco to national audiences in Branson.

Bonus Notes

  • Later-era CDs carried in the Flat Town Music catalog helped keep his music in print for fans at home and on the road.
  • Stage presence mattered: jokes, stories, and call-and-response made every set feel like a family fais-do-do.