Down Home Cajun Music- Sons of Acadians 1939

Sons of Acadians were formed by a team of Lafayette area musicians in 1939 to capture the sounds of the popular music coming from the radio.  Made up of cousins, Oran "Doc" Guidry on fiddle, Nason Guidry on upright bass, and Sidney Guidry as guitarist and vocalist, they teamed up with either steel-guitarist Roscoe Whitlow or steel-guitarist Francis "Red" Fabacher and began playing night clubs in Rayne.

Decca Records wanted the group to take hillbilly and swing songs and convert them to french songs. So the group travelled to the Rice Hotel in Houston on September 5, 1939 and recorded covers of Western Swing and Jazz classics along with Doc Guidry's original; "Aux Balle Chez Te Maurice". This one session would be their only recording output. While only a couple of the songs have been reissued; here is the entire  1939 session from the Sons of Acadians.

Tu Peu Pas Metre Ce Maquac Sur Mon Dou (Decca 17053)
Onze Livre De Ciel (Decca 17053)
La Derniere Lettre (Decca 17051)
L'Alle D'Amour (Decca 17051)
En Jour A Venir (Decca 17057)
A Legire Ma Pauvre Idie (Decca 17057)
Aux Balle Chez Te Maurice (Decca 17054)
J'Vas Continue A T'Aime (Decca 17054)
Ca Tait Pas Diffence Asteur (Decca 17052)
Rosetta (Decca 17052)
Je Me Demande Si Tu Te Cent Comme Mois Je Me Cent (Decca 17055)
Tu Peu Pas L'Omnait Avec Toi (Decca 17055)

*All Selections from the original 78 rpm records
*Thanks to Wade Falcon for use of Decca 17053 and Decca 17051

Down Home Cajun Music- Early Jo-El Sonnier

On this episode we feature the early recordings of Jo-El Sonnier. Beginning with his first recordings on Swallow Records in 1960, we move through his recordings up to his early Goldband sessions.

With The Duson Playboys- Duson Playboys Special (Swallow 112) 
With The Duson Playboys- Tee Yeaux Bleu (Swallow 112) 
With The Duson Playboys- Les Grand Chemins (Swallow 122) 
With The Duson Playboys- Jealousy Waltz (Swallow 122) 
With Ellis Alleman- Tayeaux Dog Tayeaux (Dupre 101) 
With Robert Bertrand- Memphis (Fais-Do-Do 1003) 
With Robert Bertrand- Mothers Day Waltz (Fais-Do-Do 1003) 
With Sidney Brown- Fee Fee Poncho (Goldband 7748)
With Sidney Brown- Girl of The Village (Goldband 1193)
My Blue Letter (Goldband outtake) (Yep Roc 2498)
Gabriel Waltz (Goldband Outtake)

Down Home Cajun Music- Early Lawrence Walker 1929-1935

While he is better known for his later recordings on Khoury's and La Louisianne Records, Lawrence Walker's first recordings were made in 1929 with his brother Joseph Elton, recording one record for the Brunswick label. Lawrence would not record again till 1935, it was then they he recorded 3 records for the Bluebird label during the string band era. Lawwrence would also team up with Tony Alleman to record one record for Bluebird at the same session.

Walker Brothers- La Breakdown La Louisianne (Brunswick 381) 1929
Walker Brothers- La Vie Malheureuse (Brunswick 381) 1929
Walker Brothers- La Valse De Pins (Bluebird 2195) 1935
Walker Brothers- Jamais Marrez (Bluebird 2195) 1935
Walker Brothers- La Valse De Louisiane (Bluebird 2198) 1935
Walker Brothers- Pourquois Vous Etes Si Cannai (Bluebird 2198) 1935
Lawrence Walker- Alberta (Bluebird 2199) 1935
Lawrence Walker- Whats the Matter Now (Bluebird 2199) 1935
Alleman and Walker- La Femme Qui Jovait Les Cartes (Bluebird 2193) 1935
Alleman and Walker- Mon Dernir Bon Sir (Bluebird 2193) 1935

Down Home Cajun Music- Amede Ardoin & Dennis McGee Part One

This week we are coming up on the anniversary of Amede and Dennis's last recordings together in 1934. On this episode we reflect back to their first recordings, starting in 1929 and ends in the middle of their 1930 recordings. Their music represents some of the most intense music ever produced out of the pre war era. Their style was unmatched, and their music went on to influence Cajun music even up to today. Any Cajun song you hear today, more than likely stems from a Amede Ardoin song.

1. Taunte Aline (Dec. 9 1929)
2. Two Step De Mama (Dec. 9 1929)
3. Madame Atchen (Dec. 9 1929)
4. Two Step De La Praire Soileau (Dec. 9 1929)
5. La Valse Ah Abe (Dec. 9 1929)
6. Two Step De Eunice (Dec. 9 1929)
7. Amadie Two Step (Nov. 20 1930)
8. La Valse A Austin Ardoin (Nov. 20 1930)
9. Blues De Basile (Nov. 20 1930)
10. La Valse A Thomas Ardoin (Nov. 20 1930)
11. Two Step D'Elton (Nov. 20 1930)

*All Selections from The Complete Recordings of Amede Ardoin 1929-1934 

Down Home Cajun Music- 1929 Part One

While the first Cajun recordings were made in 1928, the flood gates opened up in 1929. In that year we get the most diverse group of Cajun musicians to record in the pre war era. Many of these musicains recorded only a few sides and slipped off into obscurity. This mix is devoted to those artists and their beautiful, archaic recordings.

Columbus Fruge- Saut Crapaud
Guillory & Lafleur- Stop That
Oscar Doucet & Alius Doucet- Oh Baby!
Soileau Couzens- Sur Le Chemin Chez Moi
Monet & Dupuis- Je M'En Suis Alle
Conner & Credure- Valse De Boscoville
Anatole Credure- Gasport One Step
Segura Brothers- Your Small and Sweet
Harrington, Landry and Steward- La Stomp Creole
Babineaux & Guidry- I Am Happy Now
Guidry Brothers- Le Garcon Negligent
LeJeune & Fruge- Le Petite One Step

Down Home Cajun Music- Hackberry Ramblers 1935-1938

The Hackberry Ramblers started playing together in 1933. They were the first band to combine Cajun music with country music, sung in English. Besides country music, they played western swing, blues, traditional jazz standards, a wide range of popular songs. They were also the first group to use amplification to boost their sound. This episode features some of their early recordings; some which have not been reissued.

Hackberry Ramblers- Mermentan Stomp (Bluebird 2003) 1936
Hackberry Ramblers- Just Because (Montgomery Ward 4816) 1935
You've Got To Hi De Hi (Bluebird 6136) 1935
Rambling (Bluebird 2010) 1936
Jolie Blonde (Bluebird 2003) 1936
Cajun Crawl (Bluebird 2013) 1937
Jai Pres Parley (Bluebird 2013) 1937
Dobie Shack (Bluebird 2019) 1936
The Wandering Man (Bluebird 2019) 1936
La Breakdown A Pete (Bluebird 2035) 1938
Oh Josephine, My Josephine (Bluebird 2035) 1938
Mon Cour Me Fois Ci Mal (Bluebird 2088) 1938




*All selections from the original 78 rpm records

Down Home Cajun Music- Nouveau Musique

Goldman Thibodeaux & The Lawtell Playboys- Allons Danser
Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours- Dupuy Special
Lost Bayou Ramblers- La Valse De Balfa/ The Bathtub
Corey Ledet- M'ap Marshe'
Cory McCauley and His Evangeline Aces-Mazurka de la Louisianne
Michot's Melody Makers- Allons Tous Boire Un Coup
Michot's Melody Makers- Ma Jolie Petite Fille
Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours- Baby Please Don't Go
Goldman Thibodeaux & The Lawtell Playboys- J'Etais Au Bal/Zydeco Sont Pal Sales
Corey Ledet- Nina's Hot Step

Down Home Cajun Music- The Rise of Swallow Records Part One

1.Introduction by Floyd Soileau
2.Milton Molitor with Austin Pitre Band- Manuel Bar Waltz (Big Mamou 101)
3.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
4.Lawrence Walker- Bon Ton Rouley (Vee Pee 102)
5.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
6.Aldus Roger- O.S.T Special (Vee Pee 103)
7.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
8.Adam Hebert- Every Night When It's Dark (Swallow 103)
9.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
10.Austin Pitre- Flum De Faire (Swallow 106)
11.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
12.Louis Cormier- One Step De Duson (Swallow 107)
13.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
14.Rambling Aces- 99 Year Waltz (Swallow 111)
15.Discussion with Floyd Soileau
Jo El Sonnier & Duson Playboys- Tee Yeaux Bleu Swallow 112)

*All music selections from the original 45 rpm records
*Discussion with Floyd Soileau taken from interview I conducted with him. © 2021 Down Home Cajun Music.
Photo courtesy Steve Grisaffe
Also Available on Apple Podcasts

These early recordings capture Boozoo Chavis at his best. His recordings at Goldband from the mid-50s to the early 60's contain some of the earliest examples of zydeco music. And just think; we have Sidney Brown to thank..

Down Home Cajun Music- Boozoo Chavis: Goldband Recordings

Paper in My Shoe
Forty One Days
Bye Bye Catin
Oh Yae Yae
My Love Just For You
Pallet on the Floor
Oh Ho She's Gone
Tee Black
Bottle Up and Go
Comma Lemma Chapo Sha
Lost the Paper in My Shoe

*All selections taken from the Rounder 2097 Lp "The Lake Charles Atomic Bomb".

Down Home Cajun Music- Cajun Recordings on Paramount Records

Paramount Records was well known for their recordings of country, blues and jazz. But they also recorded Cajun music at three sessions. This episode features recordings from those three sessions.

By 1929, Paramount Records had taken notice of the success of Cajun artists on Columbia, RCA and ARC. Soon, they too were scouting musicians from south Louisiana to record. The first session was in January on 1929 and featured accordionist John Bertrand and  guitarist Milton Pitre. 

By the time the records had come out Milton Pitre had been shot and killed in a dispute over a woman. So for his second session in March of 1929, he brought along a guitarist from Acadia Parish, named Roy Gonzales and his son Anthony.

For the third session in July of 1929, Roy Gonzales returned along with the duo of Leo Soieau and Moise Robin. Fiddler Leo Soileau had lost his original accordion player, Mayuse LeFleur, when he too was killed. He returned to recording with Moise on this session for Paramount.

After these sessions, the label didn't pursue any more Cajun artists. Soon after after the Depression the label would be folding up. John Bertrand along with Roy Gonzales would not record again. Leo Soileau would keep busy recording well into the late thirties. 



Leo Soileau and Moise Robin- Easy Rider Blues (Paramount 12808) 
John Bertrand and Milton Pitre- Valse De Gueydan (Paramount 12748)
Roy Gonzales- Anuiont Et Bleue (Paramount 12832)
Leo Soileau and Moise Robin- Ma Chere Tite Fille (Paramount 12808)
John Bertrand and Milton Pitre- The Rabbit Stole the Pumpkin (Paramount 12730)
Leo Soileau and Moise Robin- Ce Pas La Pienne Tu Pleur (Paramount 12908)
Roy Gonzales- Un Fussi Qui Brille (Paramount 12807)
John Bertrand and Milton Pitre- Cousinne Lilly (Paramount 12725)
Leo Soileau and Moise Robin- Ma Mauvaus Fille (Paramount 12830)
John Bertrand and Roy Gonzales- Choctaw Beer Blues (unissued Paramount)
Leo Soileau and Moise Robin- Je Te Recontrais De La Brulier (Parmount 12908)
Roy Gonzales- Attendre Pour Un Train (Paramount 12807)

All selections taken from The Rise and Fall Of Paramount Records Volume 2
with the exception of Paramount 12807 (thanks to Wade Falcon)