Center for Louisiana Studies Archival Catalog
This searchable database provides information on images, documents, and audio and video recordings, made between 1934 and the present.
Interview by Ben Sandmel with John and Geno Delafose
Repeat of the interviews on SA1-050 and SA1-051
Interview by Ben Sanmel with Lee Atwater
Ben Sandmel with Lee Atwater:
00:30 - His interest and background in Blues
00:40 - Listened to WLAC late at night as a child
01:45 - Musicians he would go out and listen to at clubs
02:15 - Music as a profession
02:30 - Backing up musicians like Lee Dorsey, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge
03:00 - Leaving music and getting into politics
05:00 - Working with musicians - helping them gain exposure
05:30 - Knowing and playing with other blues musicians
07:30 - Bassist and Drummers needing to work together as one unit
08:00 - Learning from watching musicians and playing with them
09:00 - Mixing music and politics
Interview by Ben Sandmel with Snooks Eaglin
Ben Sandmel with Snooks Eaglin:
01:00 - Companies he's recorded with
01:45 - The change he sees in the public and the type of music they like
02:00 - Recording for Harry Oster (Folkways Records) - his opinions on these early recordings
03:00 - Playing radio shows and high school dances
03:30 - Born in New Orleans
04:00 - His father was an harmonica player and used to jam with his father in the evenings
-Recording on family's acetate and tape recorders
05:00 - How he began playing at clubs - Eddie Bo
07:45 - Attending the School for the Blind in Baton Rouge
10:20 - Becoming the band leader - naming band members - playing with Allan Toussaint
13:00 - Modern music being played on the radio
14:15 - Playing with Art Neville
15:25 - "Caddo" - Crowd demanding him to play "Mother in Law"
17:25 - Playing with Eddie Bo and Joe Smith
19:30 - Playing at the World's Fair
21:30 - Stories about a guitars and amps falling apart during his gig
22:40 - Playing at Tipitina's - amp catching fire
23:45 - Smiley Lewis
25:00 - Teaching himself to play, listening to music growing up
27:00 - Talking about Ray Charles and his ways - playing gigs with him
29:50 - Joe Turner
31:30 - Talking about his style and how he can twist his fingers
33:30 - White Audiences at Blues shows
37:10 - Going to London with Professor Longhair
40:00 - What Snooks feels gives his music a different feel from most blues musicians
43:30 - Feelings about country music - Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Lefty Frizell
44:20 - Snooks' wife talking bout being married to a musician and traveling some with him
50:30 - Issues they had while playing gigs
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
00:00 - J'ai étais au bal first part with "pull/push" method;
15:28 - Full Part 1 of J'ai étais au bal slowed down;
16:45 - 1st part of J'ai étais au bal normal speed;
17:40 - 2nd part of J'ai étais au bal slow then full speed
27:20 - 2nd part at full speed
28:00 - Both parts at full speed of J'ai étais au bal
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
00:10 - 1st part of Jolie Blonde using "pull/push" method slowed down;
08:30 - bridge of Jolie Blonde slowed down;
09:50 - Unknown title - Fast fiddle tune;
12:40 - Second half of the Jolie Blonde bridge;
15:00 - Both parts of Jolie Blonde normal speed;
16:10 - Standard A440 tuning;
17:30 - Unisons, Octaves, Chords
25:00 - Low fiddle tunings
26:10 - Perrodin two step slowed down
29:40 - Intro to shuffle bowing
30:25 - Perrodin two step full speed
31:25 - Doubling B flat chords
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
Redigitize - Cell phone interference at around 8 minutes
00:38 - Grandpa's waltz;
2:30 - Octave of A chord;
03:35 - La valse des grands bois slowed down;
06:35 - Indian on a Stump tuning (cross tuning);
09:30 - Octaves and unisons used in Indian on a Stump:
11:30 - Bridge of Indian on a Stump - shuffle bowing;
14:10 - Indian on a Stump - full song - slow speed;
15:15 - Chords for seconding in Cajun music;
20:00 - Straight Bassing (seconding) for Cajun fiddle;
20:45 - Bassing on the Perrodin two step;
22:22 - Shuffling the bow while seconding;
23:10 - Shuffle seconding on Perrodin two step;
23:40 - Several methods of seconding on Jolie Blonde
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
Tape degraded at the beginning, cleans up after first minute or so.
00:05 - Fiddle and guitar version of Jolie Blonde;
06:15 - Fiddle and guitar version of Perrodin two step;
08:30 - Fiddle and guitar version of Grandpa's Waltz;
11:45 - Fiddle and guitar version of La valse des grands bois;
13:00 - Fiddle and guitar version of Les barres de la prison;
15:12 - Fiddle and guitar version of the Mardi Gras Song;
18:00 - Demonstration of sliding and bending notes for Port Arthur Blues;
21:45 - Rolling notes;
22:20 - Chère bébé Créole;
26:18 - Demonstrating trills with Danse Carré
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
00:50 - "Old Lonesome Sound" La valse des bambocheurs played at a slow speed;
02:10 - La valse des bambocheurs - regular speed with guitar accompaniment;
03:15 - Indian on a Stump - regular speed;
05:50 - Discussion about Instruments used in Cajun music;
12:30 - "uptown" style fiddling in Cajun music - Doug Kershaw, Rufus Thibodeaux;
14:45 - Dewey's style when playing with a full, amplified band;
22:20 - High pitched singing style in Cajun music;
24:40 - Cajun yell;
26:22 - J'ai étais au bal - slow speed seconding;
30:00 - Regular and double time waltz examples;
32:55 - Types of dances - fais do-do, dancehalls, "the pen,"
39:40 - Explaining the lyrics of the Mardi Gras Song;
47:00 - Mardi Gras runs - rules, customs
Danny Brasseaux and Cajun Express - Commercial Recording
KAJUN -5039
Side A
La special des jours de minuit
Mémoirs de Mama
La valse sans espoir
Marche vite
La valse du Bayou Teche
Side B
Le special du Bayou Noir;
Les larmes cadjines
Arret de trainailles dans mes souliers
Quand j'etais pauvre
Petits yeux noirs
Cliff Newman with Phil Menard - The Louisiana Travlers (sp) - Cajun Smash Hits
Side 1;
1. Introduction
2. The Reno Waltz
3. Tee Mon
4. My Father-in-law's Sorrows
5. The Grand Prairie Waltz
6. The Chatagnier Waltz
7. Jolie Blonde
Side 2
1. D&M Special
2. Alleman Waltz
3. I Went To The Dance
4. The Louisiana Waltz
5. Lacassine Special
6. The Lawtell Waltz
Dewey Balfa and Peter Schwarz Apprenticeship Lessons - 1984
0:00:30 – "Toutes les Soirs”
0:02:30 – Finding corner posts & choosing strings to play on
0:04:35 – Variations of G chord on second fiddle
0:06:16 – Supporting the lead with second fiddle
0:08:16 – Le Bourdon (droning)
0:10:04 – “Les Flammes D’enfer” seconding
0:11:24 – Carrying the beat
0:14:16 – “Perrodin Two Step”
0:21:29 – “Lovebridge Waltz”
0:24:03 – “Quoi Faire”
0:25:04 – Loosening up
0:27:51 – G in an A position & a little grace note
0:30:09 – A chord positions
0:31:02 – E chord positions
0:34:40 – “Madame Sosthene” in A
0:43:27 – Little run
0:44:17 – Don't forget the grace notes
0:48:18 – Moving positions; a double stop
0:55:28 – “Canadian waltz”
1:02:32 – Working on contrasting/complementing leader before rhythm
1:04:27 – Learning to place runs and double stops
1:04:57 – “Love Bridge Waltz”
1:07:55 – Developing individual style
1:08:35 – Carol England playing Dewey’s exact style
1:10:46 – Making sure runs end in the right place (DL’s singing)
1:11:48 – “Love Bridge Waltz”
1:14:20 – Options in A
1:16:02 – “Lake Arthur Stomp"
1:20:16 – “Louisiana Waltz”
1:21:31 – Walk down
1:25:31 – Hearing a harmony
1:28:31 – More grace notes
1:28:43 – Learning a run
1:34:40 – Playing without backup
1:39:32 – “Love Bridge Waltz”
1:44:44 – 1:46:00 – No sound
1:48:07 – “Les Flammes D’enfer”
1:49:20 – Second fiddle changing chords to keep harmony
1:55:19 – Cajun fiddles contradict but harmonize with each other
1:55:39 – “J'étais au Bal”
2:02:13 – Complementing the lead fiddle
2:04:16 – “Louisiana Waltz”
2:06:56 – 2:08:06 – No sound
2:10:44 – Bow work
2:22:07 – “Port Arthur Blues”
2:26:08 – “Fifteen-Year-Old Waltz”
2:33:28 – Cajun bridges
2:33:54 – Second fiddle accent on pulling bow down
2:34:42 – “Perrodin Two Step”
2:40:07 – “Fifteen-Year-Old Waltz”
2:42:48 – 2:43:09 – No sound
2:43:20 – “Fifteen-Year-Old Waltz”
2:44:18 – Watching Dewey’s bow arm
2:45:40 – Adding shuffling part
2:48:31-2:48:50 – No sound
2:52:43 – Seconding practice
2:53:14 – Melody comes in
2:55:32 – Feedback
2:57:34 – “Lovebridge Waltz” w/ Peter on lead fiddle
3:01:51 – Seconding technique w/ more Cajun rhythm
3:04:04 – 3:04:13 – No sound
3:04:13 – Single string seconding
3:12:45 – Contrasting the lead fiddle
3:15:14 – 3:16:00 – No sound
3:16:04 – “Beautiful rosy cheeks”
3:19:10 – Freedom in Cajun music
Presentation to Young Students with Dewey Balfa
00:28 – Asking young students about fiddle vs. violin
02:01 – The bow & rosin
03:04 – “Frère Jacques”
03:34 – The triangle
05:10 – Playing spoons
06:45 – Fiddlesticks
09:43 – The accordion
12:27 – The guitar
14:20 – Bringing it all together (“Quo Faire”)
16:50 – Introducing Peter
17:49 – “Les Flammes D’enfer”
19:58 – “Wagon Wheel Special”
21:02 – “Quo Faire” (again)
22:25 – “Grand Mamou” with triangle
23:28 – “Perrodin Two Step”
24:09 – “J’etais au Bal” with fiddle sticks
28:58 – Accordion mechanics
26:41 – “Chère tout tout”
27:32 – “J’ai Passe Devant Ta Porte”
28:07 – “Lake Arthur Stomp”
29:09 – “Les Flammes D’enfer”
30:18 – “Quo Faire”
Dewey Balfa & Band Gig
00:00 – "Chere Mom”
01:55 – “Louisiana Waltz”
07:25 – “Steppin Fast”
11:43 – "Valse de Bélizaire”
16:47 – “The Back Door”
20:50 – “Faded Love”
24:43 – "Valse de Grand Chemin”
27:33 – “Port Arthur Blues”
30:40 – “J’etais au Bal”
35:42 – “Choupique Two Step”
39:40 – “En Bas du Chêne Vert”
42:59 – "Chere Mom”
Dewey Balfa & Band Gig
0:00:10 – “Blues de Basile”
0:04:13 – "Nobody Wants Me”
0:07:48 – “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale”
0:12:12: - "Mulberry Waltz”
0:16:28 – “Les Veuves De La Coulée”
0:20:24 – “Pine Grove Blues”
0:27:18 – “Lovebridge Waltz”
0:31:29 – “Les Flammes D’enfer”
0:36:14 – “Les Flammes D’enfer” (encore)
0:38:31 – “T’es Si Aisee Pour Aimer”
0:41:39 – “Lovebridge Waltz”
0:44:14 – “Valse de Bélizaire”
0:47:05 – “Balfa Waltz”
0:49:41 – waltz
0:55:56 – “The Back Door”
0:58:08 – two step
0:59:28 – “Le Valse de Grand Bois”
1:02:29 – “Les traces de mon Boghei”
Dewey Balfa, Michael Doucet, & Band Gig
0:00:01: “Lovebridge Waltz”
0:02:37 – “Choupique Two Step”
0:05:32 – “Valse de Bélizaire”
0:10:19 – Duralde Waltz
0:14:10 – “J’etais au Bal”
Silent bit
0:18:54 – Dennis McGee Tune (with Michael Doucet)
0:20:04 – “Flammes D’enfer”
0:23:04 – Saying goodbye
0:24:16 – “Flammes D’enfer”
0:27:57 – “Tits Yeux Noir”
0:31:41 – “Lacassine Special”
0:35:44 – La valse de Grand Bois
0:39:31 – Saturday Night Special
0:43:33 – “Kaplan Waltz”
0:47:51 – “Choupique Two-Step”
0:53:26 – “B.O. Sparkle Waltz”
0:57:48 – “Veuve de la Coulee”
0:58:47-0:59:01 – no sound
0:59:14 – “J’ai Vu le Lou, le Renard, et la Belette”
1:04:08 – “Old Fashion Two Step”
Basile Cajun Hour Excerpt KEUN 1
0:05 – Instrumental two step being played on radio
0:46 – Announcer (French & English)
1:48 – Dewey introduces the band
3:02 – Waltz
06:25 – Announcer
Don Thibodeaux and the Pine Grove Boys Gig
00:01 – “Mulberry Waltz”
03:26 – “Midnight Playboy Special”
05:02 – "La Valse de Tout L’monde”
07:44 – “Les Veuves de la Coulée”
10:26 – “Mamou Two Step”
12:18 – “Faire Attention C’est Mon Coeur Qui Vas Casser”
15:12 – "Mom Je Suis Toujours Ton Petit Garçon”
18:45 – Unnamed Waltz
21:33 – “Laisse-moi parler à ton coeur”
24:36 – “La valse de famille”
Mamou Lundi Gras
0:00:06 – “The Back Door”
0:02:27 – “Cher Bébé Créole”
0:05:40 – “La Danse de Mardi Gras”
0:11:12 – “73 Special”
0:14:03 – “Cherokee Waltz”
0:16:58 – “Pine Grove Blues”
0:20:06 – "Blues Français”
0:24:01 – “Allons a la Queue de Tortue”
0:26:30 – “J’etais au Bal”
0:29:18 – “Grand Prairie Waltz”
0:33:35 – “Bayou Teche Waltz”
0:37:26 – “Hee Haw Breakdown”
0:40:47 – “La valse de 99 ans”
0:44:33 – “Les Flammes D’enfer”
0:46:48 – 0:47:09 No Sound
0:51:05 – “La pistache à Tante Nana”
0:54:01 – “Quo Faire”
0:57:05 – “Touts les deux pour la même”
1:01:15 – “Bosco Stomp”
1:05:33 – “La Danse de Mardi Gras” encore (very low volume)
1:07:57 – “Hicks Wagon Wheel Special”
1:11:10 – “Je Veux Me Marier” (very low volume)
1:13:34 – Peter’s outro
Mark Savoy, D.L. Menard, and Doc Guidry Workshop
00:26 – Playing for a sit-down crowd vs. a dance
01:27 – Mark Savoy’s and D.L. Menard’s manufacturing businesses
04:22 – “C’est dans la Coeur de la Ville”
08:29 – Instruments in newer Cajun music
10:23 – “Perrodin Two-Step”
13:35 – Cajun jigs and reels
15:58 – “Mardi Gras Jig”
18:22 – Southwestern Louisiana Mardi Gras traditions
20:42 – Different Louisiana dialects
22:46 – “Les Traces de Mon Buggy”
27:44 – “Les Zydeco Sont Pas Sale”
32:19 – “Jambalaya”
37:53 – “Wafus Two Step”
40:18 – "Valse de Grand Chemin”
45:06 – Second fiddle before the accordion