Louisiana singer-songwriter, poet, writer, environmental and cultural activist Zachary Richard will join the ranks of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Quincy Jones, Bono and select others as a “Commandeur” of l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres de la République Française.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 27, at 7:45 p.m. in Downtown Lafayette during Festival International de Louisiane, presented by LUS Fiber on Scène LUS Internationale. The Consul General of France, Grégor Trumel, will present the award following Richard’s performance with students from local French immersion programs, “Les Etoiles de l’Immersion," supported by the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL).
Richard is a highly recognized American singer-songwriter, internationally renowned for his artistic talent, his commitment to the French language and Acadian culture of Louisiana as well as to “La Francophonie” around the world.
Over the course of his career, Richard has played thousands of concerts in the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa. He has produced several television documentaries, written four children’s books, and four volumes of poetry.
In 2015, he was awarded Humanist of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Richard is Louisiana’s first French language poet laureate. A passionate promoter of the Acadian-Cajun culture of Louisiana and citizen of the world, Richard is a tireless supporter of cultural diversity and the arts. His recording career spans 45 years and includes many gold and platinum albums. He will release his 21st album in October.
Festival-goers are invited to celebrate the prestigious recognition of a world-class musician and cultural activist on April 27 at 7:45 p.m. at Scène LUS Internationale.
Find more information on Zachary Richard at www.ZacharyRichard.com.