Marc Broussard

Marc Broussard grew up steeped in the musical traditions of south Louisiana, born on January 14, 1982, in Carencro, Louisiana, a small town just north of Lafayette in the heart of Cajun country, surrounded by a rich mix of swamp pop, Cajun, zydeco, blues, gospel, and classic soul. His father, Ted Broussard, was a respected Louisiana guitarist who played with the Boogie Kings, a legendary regional band known for its blend of R&B, soul, and swamp pop , and that upbringing put Marc in rehearsals and jam sessions from childhood. As a teenager he cut his teeth in a Christian rock outfit, and in 2001 Broussard was part of Y, a Christian rock band based out of New Iberia, Louisiana , before striking out on his own. He first played in a Christian band called Y, then set out on his own with the rootsy Momentary Setback in 2002, released to encouraging reviews on the independent Ripley Records label, which helped Broussard get a deal with Island/Def Jam. The breakthrough came with his major-label debut. Carencro is the major label debut of Louisiana musician Marc Broussard, released by Island Records on August 3, 2004, with the album title paying tribute to the musician's hometown of Carencro, Louisiana. The album's first single, "Home", received airplay during the initial album release, and also after Hurricane Katrina , turning it into his signature song and pushing him into the national spotlight. Critics quickly noted his singular voice within a soulful, roots-rock framework; on his debut album he offered a blend of abilities, styles and enthusiasms uniquely adapted to himself, calling himself "a white boy singing soul music," with influences ranging from soul men like Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight to Louisiana icons. He continued building his catalog and audience with subsequent releases, and in 2007 he released S.O.S.: Save Our Soul, an album consisting almost entirely of cover versions, which was his first to reach the Top 100 of the Billboard 200 in the US, debuting and peaking at No. 96. Broussard's career arc since then has combined major-label work with an increasingly independent, mission-driven approach. He spent the next decade cycling through major labels, starting with 2004's Carencro and concluding with A Life Worth Living ten years later, then settled into a groove on the G-Man Records, regularly releasing records in his charity series S.O.S. (Save Our Soul), including such thematic albums as 2019's A Lullaby Collection and 2023's Blues for Your Soul. Along the way he built a reputation as a formidable touring artist, sharing stages and collaborating with a wide range of acts; he has worked with a "who's who" of today's radio-friendly performers in Maroon5, the Dave Matthews Band and Tori Amos, but on the flip side he also has played with Willie Nelson and Robert Randolph. His philanthropic streak became a defining part of his identity as well, as his philanthropic efforts began with his self-released album Bootleg to Benefit the Victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in 2015 he established the S.O.S. Foundation to raise money for causes including the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital. Broussard remains active today, still touring and recording after more than two decades in music. That debut album, with singles "Where You Are" and "Home," kicked off a Southern rock and country music career that saw Broussard reach the Billboard 100, tour the world, and perform on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The road has not always been smooth. He has been candid about a career slump around 2011, admitting that year he had to take outside work to make ends meet before recommitting to his craft, and since then he has released eight full length albums, twelve in total, and toured extensively through the United States and Europe, where he has a strong fan base, including a run of European dates through Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and England. His enduring reputation rests on that distinctive "bayou soul" sound, and he is still recognized for a voice that colleagues and critics alike consider one of the most powerful in contemporary roots music.