By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com

Lisa Haley

VH1’s program "Behind the Music" has revealed to TV viewers that a musician’s life isn’t always as desirable as many aspiring musicians and music novices might believe.

World-famous Cajun music artist Lisa Haley, who will perform at the upcoming 16th Annual Cajun, Creole Music Festival in Simi Valley on Memorial Day weekend, has had her share of undesirable moments in life.

"I got to a point where I was going to swallow a bottle of pills," Haley said. "I was very depressed."

Haley, a fourth-generation fiddler, started singing at the early age of 4 and picked up the violin six years later. Her first paying job as a musician was at age 15.

"It’s kind of in your blood," Haley said.

Haley’s first job earned her $12. "I said, ‘You know, they paid me for what I would’ve done anyway, which is pretty cool. I think I’ll make a living at it.’ I never stopped."

Haley was raised in California, but her family comes from various areas of Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia and West Virginia.

"When I was really small, my mom got real sick and almost died," Haley said. "We had to move to a dry climate and we picked Los Angeles. I’m glad for that now. If I would’ve grown up in Louisiana, there’s no possible way in the world that I would be making a living at making music, because it wasn’t considered acceptable for women to make a living playing music."

Not only was Haley able to make a living in the music business, but she also became very popular as a musician. During the mid-1980s, Haley was riding high on her ability to play music in a very famous band, she said.

"We were touring Europe a lot," Haley said. "We came back to Canada and were at a huge festival. I was what we call a ‘side man,’ meaning somebody else was the headliner and I was backing them up—I was playing violin and backing them up in their band—I was trying my best not to show off, but I got my picture in the paper the next day. So the (musical) artist’s manager came to me and said, ‘I’m sorry, but if you hadn’t been in the band, that would’ve been the artist’s picture in the paper. So it’s nothing personal—I have to make a business decision—but you can’t be in the band.’"

Haley became extremely depressed, she said. "I had been touring all over the place with these people and now I had nothing. So I went back to San Francisco, where I was living at the time, and was too proud to go back to playing in clubs. This was during the start of recession and there wasn’t a lot of work. I got more and more depressed each day."

Unable to deal with depression, Haley decided she would commit suicide. She chose a bottle of pills as her device to do the job. She didn’t want to feel any lower, the musician said.

With her death device in hand, Haley came too close to ending her life, she said. Jesus prevented her from committing suicide, according to Haley. By the end of the night, the depressed musician put her faith in Jesus. She gave her life to him the way a blind man gives his trust in direction to a guide dog.

"Instantly, my depression was gone," Haley said.

Haley, who grew up as an atheist, is now a Christian. "I now start every day with prayer."

With her newfound hope, Haley also has a newfound energy for music, she said. Even though she’s been in several movies, including "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Man in the Moon," on TV performing on "The Tonight Show," as well as playing with the Brian Setzer Orchestra and with film composer John Barry, Haley says she’s just getting started.

"Every day I wake up and say, ‘How can I move people more?’" Haley said. The performer said she tries to provoke thought in her lis

teners. "But sometimes I just like to sing funny songs like, ‘A Mosquito Ate My Sweetheart.’"

Haley tells those who’ve never heard Cajun music to prepare to catch "Zydecosis."

"There’s no cure for Zydecosis," Haley said. "All you can do is dance until the symptoms pass."

Haley described her music as a blend between Celtic French music, blues, R & B, Haitian music, German accordion, Appalachian and folk music.

"It’s really up-tempo dance music and we have a great time." Haley said.

Aside from fun, Haley’s music also tells stories, some personal stories and some stories—not her own—that date back over 100 years, which were passed down from generation to generation.

According to Haley, she and her band, Lisa Haley and the Zydekats, write about 60 percent of the stories in their songs in the same vein of the classic songs. The music, she said, has a great power over people.

"I like making people forget their troubles and making them get up and jump around, dance and have a good time," Haley said. "(Researchers) just found out that the center in the brain that responds to sex and chocolate is the same center . . . that responds to music."

Haley has performed at all but two Simi Valley Cajun music festivals. To see Haley live on stage this year, join her at the 16th Annual Cajun, Creole Music Festival on Memorial Day weekend, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sat., May 28 and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sun., May 29. The event takes place at Rancho Susana Park, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave. in Simi Valley. Go to www.cajun2005.com for more details.