While Trahan was still a teenager (he was born in 1976), Cajun music fans recognized in his soulful, plaintive voice clear echoes of the legendary Cajun musician Iry LeJeune. Anyone who listens to Trahan's first album, Ossun Blues (1996), is likely to be incredulous that a young man could bring such depth of feeling to songs like LeJeune's "Viens Me Chercher," Nathan Abshire's "Blues Francais," or Dewey Balfa's "La Valse du Bambocheur." Even more remarkable is Trahan's ability to compose his own songs like "Amitie Casser"  that draw on the same basic human feelings of sorrow and heartache.

According to Barry Ancelet in his liner notes to Ossun Blues, Trahan's first public performance occurred after a staff member at the Liberty Theater in Eunice heard him performing at the afternoon jam session held next door at the Jean Lafitte Acadian Culture Center. During the evening show, she persuaded Ancelet to ask Trahan to come on stage to play one song. His performance of "Viens me chercher" brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience, who gave him a standing ovation. Trahan learned to play accordion from his father's first cousin, Felix Richard, who a couple of decades earlier had taught Zachary Richard to play.

Ossun Blues, which was released by Swallow Records, includes lyrics in French and English.   Accompanying Trahan on the album on various songs are D.L. Menard, Terry Huval, Stacey Huval, Christine Balfa, Nelda Balfa, Kevin Wimmer, and Dirk Powell. Ossun, where Horace Trahan was raised, is a small town near Lafayette.  According to Ancelet, Trahan's father, Helaire, "was the son of Helaire Trahan, whose sisters were Joe Falcon's "filles à noncle Helaire" (Horace Trahan performs that song on the CD).

All photographs by the LSUE Office of Public Relations.
Updated July 2001.

Article taken from:
 Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Music Home Page.