Dennis Cavalier:
Dennis Cavalier was born and raised in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans around France and Claiborne streets, an intensely musical neighborhood. Fats Domino, Jesse “Ooo Poo Pah Doo” Hill, Oliver “Who Shot the La La” Morgan and the Lastie family were raised in the same neighborhood. Cavalier was greatly influenced by piano giants Professor Longhair and Dr. John.
Cavalier moved to Texas in 1975 and began playing in local progressive country bands. “When I started traveling, I found that people expected me to play New Orleans music. So I went back home and researched all the music I grew up with, Alan Toussaint, Chris Kenner, Benny Spellman. I came back to Dallas and I had a niche. Then I started writing to what I was playing, solo blues New Orleans piano. It was in my blood.”
At the same time Cavalier was touring with country singerJohnny Duncan. Duncan’s producer at CBS picked up one of Dennis’s tunes “All Night Long”, which went to #40 in the Billboard country charts in 1981.After a few years of fighting Dallas traffic, Cavalier decided to move to Jackson, Mississippi. “There is a heavy New Orleans influence there. They like to eat good food, they got soul and they like the blues.” While in Jackson, Cavalier played with Gary B.B.Coleman, the blues-man of Ichaban Records, and played solo gigs around the state up to Oxford, Vicksburg and Natchez. He also did a short tour with Delbert McClinton.
Cavalier returned to New Orleans and joined a tour supporting Guitar Slim,Jr. When the tour was over, Dennis joined up with the Southern Soul Revue featuring Johnny Adams, Wayne Bennett, Nappy Brown, and Sam McClain. Cavalier stayed in New Orleans for a few months after the Tour and did solo gigs like the annual Professor Longhair tribute at Tippitina’s; he returned to Dallas in 1990.
Dennis Cavalier continues his busy playing schedule. He has recently produced a CD of original material call “Blue Orleans”, where he plays gobs of hot solo piano and excels in vocal clarity and lyric ability. He now looks to expand his music to a broader audience, “I’d like to get over to Europe, actually anywhere I can go play my songs. I want to hit the next level. I never really tried to move to that next level, where I got records happening and people paying to come and hear my stuff. I’m trying now and I’m ready.”
Dennis looks forward to performing at your next special event!