As the leader of BeauSoleil, Michael Doucet is a pivotal figure in the Cajun music revival of the last quarter of the 20th century. Doucet's dedication to the Cajun and Creole songbooks helped push these sounds into the American folk songbook, but he also broadened the music by incorporating elements of blues, rock, and country. This blend came alive on-stage, where the multi-instrumentalist became known for his fleet skill on the fiddle, and was captured on records he made with BeauSoleil and on his own. The two discographies were often intertwined -- an important 1984 set for Arhoolie was called Michael Doucet with BeauSoleil -- underscoring how his music didn't follow any strict boundaries: it was a living, breathing, evolving art encompassing Cajun music's past and pointing toward its future.