Kinder-Private Graveside Services for Willis Prudhomme, 88, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at St. Michael Cemetery. Rev. Whitney Miller will officiate under the direction of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes. **The family has requested that only immediate family such as Willis' children and grandchildren attend the graveside service. **

The family will receive visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Kinder on Friday, September 4, 2020 from 6-9 p.m.

Willis Prudhomme was born on September 22, 1931 in Kinder, LA.  He was one of twelve children.  Willis grew up as a member of a sharecropper family and eventually became a rice and soybean farmer himself.  He married Mary Velma Henry and within this union, they had five sons.  Willis was very active in his children's lives, where he coached Little Dribblers Basketball and Little League Baseball.  He was also a high school basketball referee.  He was an active member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. Willis always had a heart for music and occasionally would attend a local creole dance hall, where he became intrigued with the toe tapping music.  In the early 70's, he began his musical career by playing the drums for a local band for 9 years.

At the age of 45, he taught himself how to play the harmonica and the accordion, in which became his focal instrument….and so a "star" was born!  With a love for the limelight, he ventured out and created his own Zydeco band called "Willis Prudhomme & the Zydeco Express".  This band included traditional Zydeco music with a dash of that Prudhomme flare.  He even wrote many of his own songs.  They recorded their first live performance from club Richard's near Lawtell, which was released in 1989.  Willis and his band ended up releasing multiple albums beginning in 1990 with the final album being released a decade later.  Willis Prudhomme & the Zydeco Express became an international sensation, as they traveled all over the world.  In 1992, Willis and his band were featured on the big screen by performing "Zydeco Queen" in the movie "Passion Fish".  They received multiple awards throughout their successful career.

In 2018, the Kinder Welcome Center recognized Willis with a bronze sculpture that is currently on display in the music museum.  He was also honored to receive a "Living Legend Award" in December 2019.  Willis is also the longest tenured musician having played 20+ years at the Jazz and Heritage Festival held in New Orleans, LA.

On August 31, 2020, Willis Prudhomme received his wings. Willis is preceded in death by his parents, August and Bell Prudhomme; first wife, Mary Velma Prudhomme; one son, Michael James Prudhomme; five brothers; six sisters; one granddaughter, Loan Sawyer; and one great grandson, Michael Sawyer.

Willis is cherished by his wife of 11 years, Patricia Prudhomme; four sons, Joseph Kenneth Prudhomme and wife, Sharon, of Lake Charles, Robert Wayne Prudhomme of Kinder, Mike Anthony Prudhomme and wife, Josetta, of Lake Charles and Patrick Prudhomme and wife, Pam, of Lake Charles; four grandchildren, Renee Clark and husband, Chris, of Lafayette, Tanya Fontenot and husband, Terry, of New Orleans, Mike Prudhomme, Jr., of Lake Charles and David Prudhomme and wife, Lisa, of Kinder; and nine great grandchildren.