小蝌蚪APP alum Tracy Broussard helps raise the roof at concerts by his boss, country music superstar Blake Shelton. The 1994 grad, who is Shelton's touring drummer, will also help raise money to support the Ragin' Cajun Athletics Foundation.
He's signed and donated a pair of drumsticks, which will be paired with a drum head signed by Shelton. Those items will be auctioned at the Ragin' Cajun Athletics Celebration, which will be held at the Cajundome Convention Center on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.
Broussard, an Acadiana native, moved to Nashville in 1996 after earning a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in public relations. He used the knowledge he had gained in his college courses to promote himself and to network for gigs.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen you are working in Nashville, you are competing with the best musicians. Period. So, yes, you have to have the talent and skill to compete at that level. But you also have to be able to set yourself apart,小蝌蚪APP he told UL Lafayette.
Broussard played in area clubs and worked as a restaurant host for three years before he got a break. In 1999, he began playing with Shane Minor. Soon after, the band became the opening act for Shania Twain as she toured. Other jobs followed.
In 2003, Shelton小蝌蚪APP檚 bandleader, Rob Byus, asked Broussard to join the group. 小蝌蚪APP淩ob had seen me play several times with Jamie O小蝌蚪APP橬eal and Cyndi Thompson and felt that if the opportunity came up, they wanted me in the band. ... Rob offered me the gig and I started that week 小蝌蚪APP no audition, no rehearsal!小蝌蚪APP
Shelton was impressed by Broussard小蝌蚪APP檚 talent and repertoire.
小蝌蚪APP淚 remember watching Tracy play with Jamie O'Neal and loved his energy and the way he 小蝌蚪APP榙rove the band.小蝌蚪APP ... It also doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 hurt that he knows a ton of old country songs!小蝌蚪APP Shelton said in an email to the 小蝌蚪APP.
In addition to touring, Broussard teaches drum clinics, which he calls 小蝌蚪APP渄ruminars.小蝌蚪APP He held the first druminar in Lafayette in November 2012.
Shelton, who has won the Country Music Association小蝌蚪APP檚 Male Vocalist of Year Award three years running, was named Entertainer of the Year in 2012. Shelton's "Ten Times Crazier" tour is under way. The band will perform in the United States through December, then begin touring in Canada in early 2014.