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Marc Broussard: Soul Singer from the Bayou

Marc Broussard has a voice that defies his appearance. The 22-year-old performer from Cajun country wields a throaty, powerhouse baritone with a power and depth that recalls Otis Redding or Marvin Gaye. Broussard describes himself this way: "A white boy singing soul music."

Louisiana native Broussard named his debut CD after his hometown: Carencro. He draws inspiration from his Acadian roots and musical family, particularly his father. Growing up, Broussard's house was filled with the sounds of Chick Corea, George Benson and Wes Montgomery, all from his father's album collection.

Father and son co-wrote the opening song of Carencro -- "Home" -- while driving together from Birmingham, Ala. to Layfayette, La. Broussard tells NPR's Jennifer Ludden that he sees "Home" as a direct line to his Cajun heritage, a "dirty and gritty" story. "And that's pretty much what south Louisiana is," he says, "it's just the dirt and the grit and a vibe that you can't find anywhere else."

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Jennifer Ludden
NPR National Correspondent Jennifer Ludden covers economic inequality, exploring systemic disparities in housing, food insecurity and wealth. She seeks to explain the growing gap between socio-economic groups, and government policies to try and change it.