The musicians have released a CD, available at Franco center

LEWISTON – After an absence of seven years, L’orchestre C’est Si Bon – the official Franco-American Festival Band -will reunite for the festival season this year as a tribute to founder and organizer Ray Chouinard, who died last year.

The band, made up of Gerry, Mickey and Nel Meservier of Lewiston and Don Leblanc of Livermore Falls, will play at the FrancoFun Festival in Lewiston this August and at Le Club Calumet in Augusta March 24. Only French music will be performed along with the familiar novelty dance music associated with the group at the Augusta dance, which is already sold out.

In addition, L’orchestre C’est Si Bon, which played throughout New England and eastern Canada for a quarter of a century, will release a CD titled “A Tribute to Ray Chouinard.”

Ed Boucher, music producer and former orchestra member, suggested releasing a compilation CD featuring Chouinard’s most popular songs and the band’s three original albums. All the songs have been digitally remixed and remastered, with Roger Pomerleau, an entrepreneur and recording artist from Augusta, offering to pay for the CDs. The CD cover graphics were created by Emmanuel Boucher.

The CD, costing $15, tax included, will be released today at the 11:30 a.m. La Rencontre at the Franco-American Heritage Center on Cedar Street. All proceeds from the CD sales and dance at Le CLub Calumet will go directly to the Raymond P. Chouinard Musical Heritage Fund.

That fund will be instrumental in helping to develop a music-appreciation program as well as activities designed to keep Franco-American music alive, according to Rita Dube, executive director of the heritage center.

“A Tribute to Ray Chouinard” CDs will be made available free to public libraries and schools that include French music in their curriculum. Also couresty of the fund, students accompanied by an adult can get free admission to Une Soiree Canadiennne at the heritage center, which has a display case with items representing Chouinard and L’orchestre C’est Si Bon. Also, French students and teachers can get complimentary tickets to French plays.

“I can’t think of a better way to honor my father’s memory than by keeping his music alive for generations to come,” said Chouinard’s daughter, Anne Chouinard Brown.

Besides appearances at Le Club Calumet and the FrancoFun Festival, L’orchestre C’est Si Bon will perform at La Kermesse Festival June 21-24 in Biddeford and at the annual Winslow Days celebration June 30 in Winslow.

This will be a one-time reunion. The band isn’t getting back together and won’t be available for bookings.