Marc Broussard is a singer, songwriter, performer, and humanitarian. His commitment to making the world a better place is a mantra that he has been bound to since the beginning of his career. It has always been about tying music to a mission, one reason that his new studio album entitled A Lullaby Collection SOS III (released November 15th) and book, I Love You For You, were created to educate and inspire younger audiences.
The album, the third in Broussard’s independently released SOS (“Save Our Soul”) series, finds him reimagining a series of standards that are easily identified as lullabies—songs such as “Danny Boy,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Moon River,” among others, which are calming, soothing and enticing all at the same time. The 11-song album also includes two Broussard originals, “Bedtime” and “Gavin’s Song.”
While the songs might be geared to younger ears, Broussard’s soulful signature sound, expressive vocals and sweeping orchestration offer a universal appeal for listeners of all ages. The material on A Lullaby Collection SOS III is culled from iconic songs that Broussard has always felt a particular attachment to, and it’s Broussard’s third covers album of his career. His first, SOS: Save our Soul, was a collection of R&B classics. The second, SOS II: Soul on a Mission, delved further into the vaults of R&B, soul, and rock (released in 2016). Broussard donated 50% of the profits from these albums to City of Refuge, an organization that seeks to lead individuals and families on a journey to self-sufficiency.
Coinciding with the release of his new album, Broussard is making his debut as an author with I Love You For You. The book is intended to teach children that every individual is special in his or her own way, and has something wonderful to offer, regardless of circumstances or special needs. It emphasizes that everyone deserves inclusion, affirmation, and appreciation simply for who they are. The lesson that the child is left with is that it’s important to respect others and value them accordingly.
Today Glide is excited to offer a premiere of Broussard performing “Sweet Baby James” acoustically in an intimate setting. To add to the significance of the performance, he is joined by his father, the acclaimed Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist Ted Broussard. Having made his stage debut at age five belting out “Johnny B. Goode” while sitting in with his father’s band, the legendary The Boogie Kings, it’s immediately clear that Marc and his father have a natural, familial chemistry. Marc mentions this to the audience, providing a pleasant backstory of his musical history with his father. This serves as a lead-in to their cover of James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James”. Marc adds a rich and soulful touch to the lyrics while Ted inflects the song with delicate and complex acoustic guitar stylings. Both father and son harmonize beautifully, giving the song a more revelatory and unifying sound.
The younger Broussard offers a little more context on the song selection:
“I’ve been singing this song for almost 30 years. I’m so thankful my father showed me how to play it at such an early age. The music of James Taylor has always brought me such joy and has been a steadfast source of inspiration for me since I first heard ‘There is a young cowboy…'”
WATCH:
A Lullaby Collection SOS III and I Love You For You is out now. For more music and info visit marcbroussard.com.
