Toups is one of the most commercially successful American Cajun singers. He is also a
songwriter. Wayne Toups has been granted numerous awards and honors throughout his
career including 2010 Festivals Acadiens et Créoles dedicated in his name, Offbeat
Magazine Album of the Year recipient. Member of The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Gulf
Coast Hall of Fame, and Cajun French Music Hall of Fame, 55th Annual Grammy Award
winner.
He was born into a family of rice farmers in Crowley. He first picked up an accordion when
he was 13 and quickly began winning local accordion contests. He has combined Cajun
music, zydeco, R&B, and rock into a genre he calls Zydecajun. He sings in both English and
French.
He released his first album, Wayne Toups and the Crowley Aces in Europe in the late 1970s.
He began gaining popularity in the United States around 1984 when he began performing at
local festivals such as the Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette. In 1986 he released his first
album, Zydecajun. The Cajun French Music Association’s awarded him their “Song of the
Year” Award in 1991 for his song “Late in Life.” Three of his songs, including wedding favorite
“Take My Hand”, were featured in the movie Dirty Rice, and some of his work is also
featured on the soundtracks for the movie Steel Magnolias and the television show “Broken
Badges”.
He has recorded for the major record labels Mercury/Polygram and Mercury. His 1995
release, Back to the Bayou became the fastest-selling record ever for the independent
Louisiana label Swallow Records. He has been featured playing the accordion on singles
for many country music stars. He appears on the Mark Chesnutt No. 1 hit, “It Sure Is
Monday”; on Clay Walker’s “Live Laugh Love”; and on Alan Jackson’s “Little Bitty”. He played
with Sammy Kershaw, George Jones, Mark Wills, Garth Brooks, and Ty England.
Toups is often known for wearing bright outfits during his performances. He has toured in
over twenty-six countries, including in South America, Canada, Europe and the Far East.
He has appeared on MTV and on the Super Bowl XXIV telecast.