Randy “ Frisson” Vidrine was born and raised in a French speaking household in Ville Platte Louisiana located about 10 miles from another small Cajun town called Mamou which is home to the world famous Fred’s Lounge. He heard Cajun music his entire childhood on local radio stations but it was only after he began playing guitar that he realized how beautiful and important the “French” music he was raised was to his culture. He began playing dances and some local festivals while still in high school.

It was after graduating college that his wife Tina introduced him to her boss’s nephew Cory McCauley. Shortly thereafter they started a band called Charivari. It was not long after that they met up with a young fiddle player that had been coming to hear Charivari. That young fiddle player was Mitch Reed. McCauley Reed Vidrine was born and the gigs became more numerous and prestigious. Cory later broke from the band but Mitch and Randy stayed together and had bands together under several different names and lineups. They toured the UK and other countries for several years and recorded projects as Tasso, Mamou Prairie Band and the second edition of Charivari. During the 1990’s and even today Randy has travelled the United States and Europe teaching Cajun vocals and Cajun style rhythm guitar. He has taught many years for Cajun Week at Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp in New York for Jay Unger the writer of the popular Lover’s Waltz and is a regular at Agusta Cajun Week in West Virginia teaching Cajun vocals and guitar and performing. He has also instructed and performed in the UK, Denmark, Germany and France among other countries. Besides instructing, performing and writing songs most of which have been recorded by Charivari on their two Rounder Records projects, Randy continues to gig. He is a member of Cajun Tradition led by Jamie Berzas and is a member of The Forest Huval Band. Randy has no plans on slowing down or stopping the playing and promotion of the Cajun music and culture.