Background
Wayne Toups was born into a family of rice farmers in Crowley, Louisiana.
Wayne Toups was born into a family of rice farmers in Crowley, Louisiana.
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. He first picked up an accordion when he was 13 and quickly began winning local accordion contests.
He has combined Cajun music, zydeco, Rhythm & Blues, and rock into a genre he calls Zydecajun.
He sings in both English and Cajun. Toups 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, Louisiana. In 1986 he released his first album, Zydecajun.
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. Toups has been featured playing the accordion on singles for many country music stars. He appears on the Mark Chesnutt #1 hit, "lieutenant 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 Music Television and on the 1990 Super Bowl telecast.