Biographical Info

Texas
with Cedric Watson, button accordion

Ed Poullard is regarded as the most significant Creole fiddler of his generation, and he has brought his unique and captivating style of music across the world. Born in Eunice, LA in 1952, the Poullard family relocated to east Texas in search of better work when Ed was still a baby. He learned the music directly from his musical family, with accordion players on both sides. Ed learned French music from his father as a child. His first instrument was the accordion, which he still plays to this day on instruments that he builds himself. When he switched to playing his grandfather’s fiddle, Poullard rapidly emerged as a substantial player of Creole music. His style and repertoire developed out of a long apprenticeship with legendary Creole fiddler Canray Fontenot. He has played with Jesse Legé, Lawrence Ardoin, Preston Frank, his late brother Danny Poullard, and many others. He has recorded numerous albums, including several put out by Arhoolie Records. He is known for being one of the few Creole fiddlers still carrying on in the tradition of the late Canray Fontenot, and Bebe Carriere, one of the last remaining links to that generation of musicians and accordion makers.

Ed will be accompanied at Fiddle Tunes by Cedric Watson (button accordion and fiddle). One of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole and Zydeco (Louisiana French) music over the last decade, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist & songwriter with seemingly unlimited potential. Originally from San Felipe, TX (population 868), Cedric made his first appearance at the age of 19 at the Zydeco Jam at The Big Easy in Houston, TX. Just two years later, he moved to south Louisiana, quickly immersing himself in French music and language. Over the next several years, Cedric performed French music in 17 countries and on 7 full-length albums with various groups, including the Pine Leaf Boys, Corey Ledet, Les Amis Creole with Ed Poullard and J.B. Adams, and with his own group, Bijou Creole.

Preston Frank will be at Fiddle Tunes in 2025.