Kyle Roussel, a Grammy-nominated musician, wants St. Charles Parish students to know that where they come from is special and unique.
“I tell them that I grew up just like them,” Roussel, a 2006 Hahnville High School graduate, said. “I went to your high school. I went to your church. Don’t take for granted your community, your family, your school.”
After touring around the world – 48 states, 50 countries and six continents – Roussel knows that there are advantages to being born and raised in the parish.
“Paris is a lot different than Hahnville,” Roussel joked. “There are stark differences and you feel out of place. But then I started to see the advantages that came from living in St. Charles Parish – the sense of community, the focus on family, how social people are, how social the music is.”
He brings those values to his music. Roussel, who is proficient in piano, organ, keyboard and drums, plays jazz, soul, gospel and funk. He’s performed with top musicians, including Jon Batiste, Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Terrence Blanchard, Dave Matthews Band, Chance the Rapper and more.
Roussel, who has played on top stages in the country, including Coachella, Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden, returned home last month to perform at Destrehan High School in honor of Black History Month. The program was organized by Destrehan High School teacher Jaime Jo Lee and St. Charles Parish Public Schools Administrative Intern Victoria Coleman Scott.
“Seeing someone who has achieved such high levels of success in the arts return home to pour into the next generation was both inspiring and powerful,” Scott said. “His talent is remarkable, but his willingness to give back to the community that helped shape him truly speaks volumes about his character.”
At Hahnville High School, Roussel played the drums in the marching band. He also played music at church, sometimes playing at three or four different churches each Sunday. As a teenager, he started playing various gigs throughout the parish and attended New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He earned a degree in jazz studies from the University of New Orleans after earning a full scholarship for music.
“All of that gave me the skills and talents that I now take all over the world,” Roussel said. “I always tell students that you might be the only kid playing classical music, or the only kid playing with adults at church, but don’t take it for granted because how you grew up is unique to you. It’s special.”
Roussel’s newest album “Church of New Orleans” won a Grammy nomination for Best Regional Roots Music Album. Roussel produced and recorded the album, which features well-known New Orleans musicians, including Irvin Neville, John Boutte, Ziggy Modeliste, George Porter Jr. and Irma Thomas, performing his original music.
Roussel said he has been fortunate to work and perform with some of the best musicians in New Orleans and in the world.
“They took me under their wings and taught me how to be a better musician and even a better person,” he said. “The idea from this last album was to just document where I was in my career and try to be a modern voice for New Orleans music.”
Roussel said it was an honor to receive a Grammy nomination.
“It’s great to have your work recognized at music’s highest levels,” he said. “And then you get to experience that and meet all the stars. I’m in line and taking pictures next to John Legend and Busta Rhymes.”
Roussel said the Recording Academy does a great job to highlight not just the big stars, but the jazz artists, musical theater artists, the classical artists, and others.
For Roussel, music is a medium to express himself and leave a mark on the world.
“It’s a great privilege,” he said.
