Down Home Cajun Music- Leo Soileau: Pioneer Cajun Fiddler

This week's episode features a out of print lp on the Old Timey label. Released in the 1980's, "Leo Soileau and his Four Aces: Pioneer Cajun Fiddler" features many of Leo's recordings from 1929-1937. Many of these recordings have not been reissued on cd or digitally.

La Valse De Josephine
Demain C'Est Pas Dimanche
Personne M' Aime Pas
Valse De Amour
In Your Heart You Love Another
Louisiana Blues
Petit Ou Gros
Ma Jolie Petite Fille
La Bonne Valse
Embrace Moi Encore
Chere Liza
La Valse De Rosa
Atrape Moi Je Tombre
Quand Je Suis Bleu
Promets Moi

*All selections from Old Timey 125 LP

Down Home Cajun Music- Folk-Star Records

On this episode of the podcast we look at Folk-Star Records. Eddie Shuler first started Goldband to promote his own band; the labels first releases from 1945 to 1951 were of his own. He started Folk-Star in 1949 to promote Iry LeJeune; as Eddie thought Cajun music to be "folk music". But like Goldband; it turned out to a label of a variety of music. The labels first releases were of Cajun, Hillbilly, Early Zydeco and Swamp Pop. After Iry's death, he recorded the first recordings of Sidney Brown, Boozoo Chavis and Cleveland Crochet on Folk-Star. He seemed to revive the Folk-Star label in the 1960's to promote artists such as Robert Bertrand, John Oliver and Phil Menard. The label lasted well into the 1960's and Eddie came up with even more labels to keep the jukeboxes filled. 

Iry LeJeune and his Lacassine Playboys- Lacassine Special (Folk-Star 100)
Iry LeJeune and his Lacassine Playboys- Te Mone (Folk-Star 101)
"Te" Joe Manuel and his Melody Boys- Your Papa Threw Me Out (Folk-Star 102)
"Te" Joe Manuel and his Melody Boys- Since The Age of 14 (Folk-Star 102)
Little Francis and Louisiana Rhythmiers- Smiling Pines (Folk-Star 109)
Sidney Brown and his French Accordion- Sha Ba-Ba (Folk-Star 1132)
Sidney Brown and his French Accordion- Love Lane Waltz (Folk-Star 1132) 
Cleveland Crochet's Hillbilly Ramblers- Deedle-E-Deedle-D-Da (Folk-Star 1191)
Cleveland Crochet's Hillbilly Ramblers- Big Boy Waltz (Folk-Star 1191)
Boozoo Chavis- Forty One Days (Folk-Star 1201)
Boozoo Chavis- Bye Bye Catin (Folk-Star 1201)
Wayne Hebert & The Hathaway Playboys- Promise I Made (Folk-Star 1206)
Phil Menard & His Cajun Five- My Mama and Mama (Folk-Star 1209)
Phil Menard & The Louisiana Travelers- La Sha Chere (Folk-Star 1210)
Phil Menard, Don Guillory and the Louisiana Travelers- D & M Special (Folk-Star 1212)
John Oliver and his Louisiana Ramblers- Uncle John Special (Folk-Star 1211)

*All selections from the original 78 and 45 rpm records.
* Thanks to John Leger for use of Folk-Star 1211.

Down Home Cajun Music- Khoury's Recordings

This week's podcast focuses on Khoury's record's label. George Khoury was a Turkish-American businessman from Lake Charles and record store owner.  In 1947, he noticed a lack of Cajun music being recorded in south Louisiana and decided to open a business to compete with Ed Shuler’s Goldband Records and J. D. Miller’s Fais-Do-Do and Feature labels. His base of operations was just around the corner from Ed’s on Railroad Ave in Lake Charles. Khoury decided to create two labels simultaneously, Lyric and Khoury’s, in 1950. The label had such artists as Lawrence Walker, Nathan Abshire, Dewey Balfa, Maurice Barzas, Will Kegley, Atlas Fruge and Crawford Vincent to name a few. Khoury continued the label into the 1960's, creating a musical history rich of influential Cajun music. 

Lawrence Walker- "Country Waltz" (Khoury's 601)
Amar Devllier- "Shoe Pick Waltz" (Lyric 1-A)
Lawrence Walker- "Tu Le Du Po La Mam" (Khoury's 607)
Jimmy Choates- "Belle Isle Waltz" (Khoury's 608)
Nathan Abshire- "La Waltz A Belezere" (Lyric 610)
Nathan Abshire- "Pine Grove Blues No. 2" (Khoury's 611)
Lawrence Walker- "Evangeline Waltz" (Khoury's 615)
Elise Deshotel- "Le Two Step De Ville Platte" (Khoury's 618)
Elise Deshotel- "La Valse De Tamper Tate" (Khoury's 620)
Shuk Richard- "Le Cote Farouche De La Vic" (Khoury's 621)
Shuk Richard- "Madam Entelle Two Step" (Khoury's 622)
Lawrence Walker- "Reno Waltz" (Khoury's 623)
Amar Devillier- "Durald Two Step" (Lyric 1-B)
Nathan Abshire- "Musical Five Special" (Khoury's 631)
Nathan Abshire- "Point De Lou" (Khoury's 645)
Little Yvonne LeBlanc- "Mama Rosin" (Khoury's 652)

*All selections from the original 78 rpm records.

Down Home Cajun Music- Janot Special

This week's episode is all 78 rpm episode feature pre war and post war recordings.

Papa Cairo and His Boys- Big Texas No. 2 (Colonial 980)
Leo Soileau- Ma Jolie Petite Fille (Decca 17027)
Harry Choates- Fa De Do Stomp (Gold Star 1326)
J.B. Fuslier- Two Step Du La Tell (Bluebird 2050)
Austin Pitre- Janot Special (French Hits 503)
Alley Boys of Abbeville- Es Que Tu Pense Jamais A Moi?
Eddie Shuler- My Jolie (Goldband 1018)
Soileau & Robin- La Valse De Pentiare (Victor 22183)
Crawford Vincent- Tippy Tee Tippy En (Khoury's 640)
Segura Brothers- Bury Me In The Corner of the Yard (Columbia 40500)

*All Selections from the original 78 rpm records.

Down Home Cajun Music- Miller's Merrymakers

While 1935 saw the rise of Cajun string bands recording, it wasn't until 1936 when one of the finer groups recorded. The Miller's Merrymakers were a string band led by Beethoven Miller, fiddler Jean Baptiste Fuselier and guitarist Preston Manuel. The group only had two sessions; one in 1936 and one in 1937. Beethoven left the band after their last session and JB took over the group. But their two sessions provide plenty of essential listening.

Merrymaker's Hop 1936
Pine Island 1936
Lake Arthur Stomp 1937
It's The Top of Everything 1936
Over the Waves 1936
Chere Tu Tu 1937
Round Up Hop 1937
Anna Mae Waltz 1936
Cajun Breakdown 1937
Ma Jullie Noir 1937
Elton Two Step 1937

Down Home Cajun Music-  The Rise of Swallow Records Part Two (1960-1962)

This weeks episode is Part two of our look at the early days of Swallow Records.

Introduction by Floyd Soileau
Sidney Brown- Font Kee-Lot Two Step (Swallow 113)
Austin Pitre- Chinaball Blues (Swallow 114)
Adam Hebert- Donnez Mon Colinda (Swallow 116)
Austin Pitre- Mamou Blues (Swallow 117)
Vin Bruce- Le Delaysay (Swallow 119)
Adam Hebert- Le Moulin (Swallow 120)
Badeaux & La. Aces- (Swallow 121)
Duson Playboys with Jo'El Sonnier- Les Grand Chemins (Swallow 122)
Vin Bruce- Si Tu M'Aimes (Swallow 123)
Adam Hebert- Open The Door (Swallow 127)
Maurice Barzas- Mamou Hot Step (Swallow 130)
Maurice Barzas-Eunice Waltz (Swallow 130)




*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.

Down Home Cajun Music- Early Cajun Music on KSIG: Angelas Lejeune 

If you missed Wade Falcon's Early Cajun Music segment on KSIG the other day; here it is. On this episode Wade discusses the life and music of Angelas Lejeune.

Down Home Cajun Music- La Breakdown La Louisianne

Angelas LeJeune- Perrodin Two Step (Brunswick 369)
Nathan Abshire & the Rayne Bo Ramblers- French Blues (Bluebird 2177)
Amar Deviller- Shoe Pick Waltz (Lyric 1A)
Columbus Fruge- Saut Crapaud (Victor 22184)
Walker Brothers- La Vie Malheureuse (Brunswick 80084)
Joe Manuel- Creole Hop (DeLuxe 6039)
Alleman & Walker- La Femme Qui Jovait Les Cartes (Bluebird 2193)
J.B. Fuselier- Chere Petite Fille (Southern 101)
Angelas LeJeJeune- Valse De Louisianne (Brunswick 369)
Nathan Abshire & the Rayne Bo Ramblers- Gueydan Breakdown (Bluebird 2177)
Walker Brothers- La Breakdown La Louisianne (Brunswick 80084)
J.B. Fuselier- La Valse De Iowa (Southern 101)
Columbus Fruge- Bayou Teche Waltz (Victor 22184)
Amar Devillier- Durald Two Step (Lyric 1A)
Alleman & Walker- Mon Dernier Bon Soir (Bluebird 2193)

*All selections from the original 78 rpm records.

Down Home Cajun Music- Alex Broussard

This episode of the podcast focuses on the early recordings of Alex Broussard. The singer and songwriter from Maurice emerged on the recording scene in 1959 with recordings on La Louisianne Records. Alex had a musical ear and played a variety of instruments; his early recordings featured Doc Guidry and Happy Fats. In the 1960's he recorded for Huey Meaux's Al-Moe label, recording several 45 rpm records.

Le Sud De La Louisiane (K80W-8016) 1959
The Year 57 (French) (K80W-8020) 1959
Nero (LL-8026) 1961
Louisiana Country (LL-8022) 1961
La Blues Du La Ville (Al-Moe 1001)
Tou Crouir Due Fare Briya (Al-Moe 1001) 1960's?
Cajun Land (Al-Moe 501) 1960's?
Rambling Alone (Al-Moe 501) 1960's?
Aces & Aces (Al-Moe 53) 1960's?
The Year of 57 (English) (Al-Moe 54) 1960's?

*All selections from the original 45 rpm records.

Dedicated to Jodie Broussard.

Down Home Cajun Music- Vie Vals

Delma Lachney & Blind Uncle Gaspard- "Riviere Rouge" (Vocalion 5281)
Hackberry Ramblers- "Jai Maitritte Pas Sa" (Bluebird 2027)
Joe Credure & Albert Babineaux- "Petit Ou Gros, Donne Moi Le" (Victor 22367)
J.B. Fuselier- "Chere Te Te" (Bluebird 2063)
Guidry Brothers- "Le Recommendation Du Soulard" (Vocalion 15844)
Cleoma Breaux- "Frisco One Step" (Decca 17018)
Joe's Acadians- "La Valse De Bayou Granddan" (Bluebird 2073)
Hackberry Ramblers- "La Valse De Prison" (Bluebird 2066)
Joe Credure & Albert Babineaux- "Tu Va Partir Seul" (Victor 22367)
Guidry Brothers- " le Mes Beaux Yeaux"  (Vocalion 15844)
Hackberry Ramblers- "Vie Vals" (Bluebird 2027)
Blind Gaspard- "Mercredi Soir Passe'" (Vocalion 5281)

*All selections from the origonal from the orginal 78 rpm records.