The Contraband

Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: Entertainment

Local musician Corey Saucier started his musical "career" at age six when he began to sing in the adult choir at his church. Saucier began attending Sulphur High School where he was involved in the choir. His freshman year he made Honor Chorus, All-State choir, and history when he became the first freshman ever to sing the coveted "O Holy Night" solo during Sulphur High School's annual Christmas concert. He also learned to play the guitar during this period.
After forging lifelong friendships throughout his sixteen years in Sulphur, Saucier was forced to move to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, at the age of seventeen. Within nine months of the move, Saucier had starting playing rhythm guitar and singing backup vocals in the band FUBAR with some friends he met at school. The band played mostly alternative covers, but also covered some Marley tunes. This was the beginning of his reggae music performances. Playing in his first band was not the only first for him on St. Croix. This was also the place where he encountered reggae.
"The day after I moved to St. Croix I went to K-Mart with my dad, and as I was sitting in the car waiting for him, this real ghetto dancehall tune came on the radio. It was something like I had never encountered before, and didn't really understand," says Saucier.
After spending roughly two years on St. Croix, Saucier moved to Georgia and attended Columbus State, majoring in music education. He started playing some solo gigs and also reunited with the band, which had moved to Columbus as well. This was also the period where he began to shift his focus and his band's to reggae music.
On Easter Sunday of 2006, tragedy struck the Sauciers in the form of a trailer fire.
"It was devastating," recalls Saucier. "When I went back to Columbus I was in a deep depression. It was the week before finals and I couldn't even bring myself to go to class. The fire was all I could think about. It consumed me just as it had the plywood and fiberglass insulated shell of my former home."
At least he can joke about it now. Indeed, life has been better for Saucier since his move back to Sulphur in May of last year. A few months after the move back, he teamed up with his old friends Max Sprigg and Sam Chapman to record some original tracks of his. This was the beginning of Ashes of Babylon. But with all the inconsistencies that he has faced, playing solo gigs are something that he can always rely on.
Through all of his ups and downs, Saucier can always find peace on stage with his guitar.
"There's no better feeling in the world than getting to sing and play and have people enjoy it," reflects Saucier. "I try to give people a piece of myself when I'm up on stage."
If you want a piece of him yourself, you can check him out at Luna Bar and Grill tonight around 10 p.m. and also on Wednesday, September 19th at Cooler's Ice House.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools