Those of you who spent time in L.A. during the 80’s-90’s musical heyday of KCRW probably remember Chuck Taggart‘s show “Gumbo,” which was canceled when KCRW went from being a local public-radio station to being the golden goose of NPR.
Chuck’s show featured Cajun, Creole, and French-Canadian folk/rock/blues, and his warm Nawlins style and great enthusiasm for the music garnered a loyal audience. He introduced Cajun music to a huge radio audience and boosted the careers of many bands with his broadcasts.
The music never stopped for Chuck, even after being pushed out of his longtime gig at KCRW. He moved over to KCSN for a while, and then migrated online during the pandemic. Listening to his new show “Safe at Home” from our digs here in Montréal, I realize just how deeply intertwined the musical and cultural histories of Québec and New Orleans really are. When you listen to Cajun music, you’re also hearing the music of those who settled Québec.
You can listen to Safe at Home on MixCloud (for free! but leave a tip if you can). It’s Chuck’s unique toe-tapping mix of modern and classic Cajun and Creole tunes, with a number of Québécois and French-Canadian artists in the mix as well. If you need a little bustle in your booty, I recommend hitting the link and letting the good times roll.
P.S. Those Angelenos who weathered the “hurriquake” last week might smile at the opening song of the 8/26 episode, which recounts how they handle such things in The Big Easy.