Biography

LOUISIANA – oppressive mugginess – mysterious, lush vegetation in the swamps – spicy local cuisine – colonial plantation manors – magnolia trees. The life-affirming music of the Cajuns, the French immigrants whose ancestral, provincial sounds are tightly interwoven with the influence of African and Caribbean folklore.

Here, once upon a time, the blues were born along the banks of the Mississippi. Spanish and native American influence were blended into this potent mixture which paved the way to the region’s vibrant center where a virtual fireworks display of colorful, Creole lust for life was ignited – NEW ORLEANS.

Directly from the heart of New Orleans – a city called "The Big Easy" because of its laid-back lifestyle-comes the charismatic singer/songwriter HELT ONCALE.

HELT ONCALE – means:

• earthy rhythm ’n’ blues and traditional Cajun music

• extraordinary songwriting

• a clear and vivid voice

• a dazzling guitarist and fiddler

He grew up experiencing the pulsating life of the city where he perfected his craft in the music pubs in the "French Quarter" then played his way through the clubs and bars of "Bourbon Street" where some of the world’s best musicians perform day after day.

From the age of 19, already an established musician, Helt toured the United States before finally moving to Germany in 1988. He immediately attracted considerable attention. In 1993, 1994, and again in 1997, he was nominated by the GACMF for the prestigious "Musician of the Year" Award. He won all three times.

HELT ONCALE – offers a musical tour through Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage. With a gentle voice he tells his listeners tales from his homeland, describes the colorful goings-on in the cities, sings about the old folks living out in the swamps and bayous, and about hopes, aspirations, joys, and sorrows, always with a backdrop of the "boundless spirit of Louisiana".

He accompanies himself on the different instruments on which he is a recognized master. Switching easily from guitar to fiddle to mandolin to banjo, he offers a spectrum of sounds whose rich variety suggests a brilliant landscape. Whether he plays a lively fiddle tune, a driving blues, or a song in the old Cajun style, when Helt’s listeners close their eyes, they are magically transported and have no trouble believing that they are experiencing the insistent heartbeat of Louisiana as the inimitable feeling of "the Big Easy" floods through the room.

Or, as the Cajuns in Louisiana say, "Laisser les bon temps rouler" – Let the good times roll.