On tour with Marc Broussard
To hear Marc Broussard tell it, he didn't really have a choice but to grab a guitar and begin mapping out his future.
"This kind of chose me," said the singer-songwriter, currently on tour in support of his CD, "Momentary Setback." "But I'm loving every minute of it."
To hear Marc Broussard sing, you might think you're hearing things, especially when you look at his picture.
But Boussard and his voice are old beyond their years.
His deep, smoky voice evokes memories of the heyday of r&b, and he's been praised by critics who express surprise that someone so young can have such a strong, malleable voice. But Marc Broussard is full of surprise.
Born in Carencro, La. to a musical family, Boussard was just five years old when he teamed with his father for his first performance.
Those early years likely account for his family's strong support at this juncture in his career.
"I have a wonderful family," said Broussard. "They're behind me 100 percent."
"I accomplished so much in the past year," said Broussard. "I'm just anxious to get out there and get in front of legitimate fans.
"That's a feat that in my wildest dreams I ever imagined," he said.
"It's been the craziest year of my life," said Broussard
Marc Broussard is blessed.
The singer-songwriter not only has talent beyond his 21 years, he also has a family that is supportive of his venture into the cutthroat music industry.
That's no real surprise, since Broussard's family is also dedicated to the music industry. "My grandfather played, my aunt played, my uncle played, my dad played," said Broussard. "I was always surrounded not just by music, but by great music."
Broussard's influences range from Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea and George Benson, and his music reflects that in gentle tribute to his elder musicians.
"The influence shows not only in my music, but also my way of thinking," he said.
"I enjoy the hell out of playing live," said Broussard. "There's nothing like it in the world to be in front of an audience and singing my butt off. But the studio is a whole different animal that I've grown to love.
In the studio, Broussard finds time to pen his music. "Any free time is spent in the studio," he said.
Although Broussard writes almost all of his own music, he doesn't feel fragile as he reveals himself to his audience. Rather, the process has empowered him and brought him more in touch with his emotions and his music.
"If I have a broken heart, I write about a broken heart," he said. "It's therapeutic."
Brenda Erickson/March 2003
The Green Bay News-Chronicle