'Such sad news': Tributes pour in as Grammy award-winning Cajun and country artist Jo-El Sonnier, 77, dies after Texas performance

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Grammy award-winning Cajun and country music artist Jo-El Sonnier died aged 77, on Saturday, January 13, after delivering his last ‘rousing’ performance.

On Saturday, after he concluded his concert at the Llano Country Opry in Llano, Sonnier suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jo-El Sonnier ‘spent his final day doing what he loved’

Texas Country Music promoter Tracy Pitcox posted a tribute to Sonnier in a Facebook post, writing, “Jo-El mentioned that he needed to rest for just a few minutes before signing autographs.”

“Unfortunately, he suffered cardiac arrest and was air flighted to Austin where he was pronounced deceased,” continued Pitcox.

Pitcox informed in his Facebook post that Sonnier performed for more than an hour before ending with his signature ‘Tear Stained Letter’. 

“He received a standing ovation and I asked him to do ‘Jambalaya’ as an encore.  He performed a rousing rendition of that classic,” writes Pitcox.

Following the conclusion of his performance, Sonnier said that he needed to rest for a while.

“Unfortunately,” shares Pitcox, “he suffered cardiac arrest and was air flighted to Austin where he was pronounced deceased.”

While it is extremely sad to lose a legend, Pitcox says Sonnier “truly spent his final day doing what he loved”.

The 77-year-old country music star spent his final moments “entertaining his fans” while “his loving wife Bobbye” was by his side.

Life and legacy of Jo-El Sonnier

Joe-El Sonnier was born in 1946 in Rayne, Louisiana. His parents were French-speaking sharecroppers.

Sonnier showcased his musical genius from an age as early as three, when he started playing his brother’s accordion. At the age of six, he performed on the radio, and by the age of 11, he made his first recording.

While he initially started as a country musician, he could not find much success in the field. Soon, he gravitated toward Cajun music. He started recording Cajun music with the independent Rounder Records label. Though the album didn't find much success, it earned him his first Grammy nomination. 

Sonnier was then signed to Merle Haggard's opening act, which motivated him to return to country music. 

With RCA Records, Sonnier found his biggest hits including ‘No More One More Time’ and a cover of British singer Richard Thompson's ‘Tear Stained Letter’, ‘Come On Joe’, ‘I’ve Been Around Enough To Know’ and ‘Raining In My Heart’.

He released several albums in Cajun music as well including 1997’s ‘Cajun Pride’, 2001’s ‘Cajun Blood’, 2013’s ‘The Legacy’ among others.

‘The Legacy’ earned Sonnier his first Grammy Award. The album also won him the Regional Roots Music Album of the Year in 2015.

Sonnier was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2019.

He also an acting credit to his name after he made a cameo appearance as a member of a dance band “in the third episode of the first season of the HBO crime series ‘True Detective’, which is set in southern Louisiana.”

Sonnier also published a children’s book titled ‘The Little Boy Under the Wagon’. Through the book released in 2017, Sonnier revealed his experiences as a person with Asperger's syndrome.

'Oh what a talented musician'

Tributes poured in as the beloved musician breathed his last. One of the fans said on Facebook, "Such sad news. RIP Jo El! Our deepest condolences to his wife and family."

Someone else mourned, "RIP Jo-E Sonnier and sympathies to his family and friends." "I just read his post about their trip up to Texas this weekend I am so said to hear this 😭😭🙏🙏🙏," said another person.

"Oh what a talented musician. So many nights listening to his music. 🎵RIP," recalled another heartbroken fan.

Someone else wrote, "I'm heartbroken 💔. Jo-El was a hard-working entertainer, and a fine man. My love to Bobbye."

"Oh my, God’s Peace be with his family! That’s such a shock to hear. I’d just listened to the video shared on FB from the Lantex at the show & so enjoyed it," shared another netizen.

A social media user wrote, "Prayers for the family. Rest in Peace Jo-El Sonnier. I just saw the post of him in Llano."

"Such sad news. Prayers for his wife and family. RIP ✝️," wrote another fan.

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