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.
Acadia North and South - Zachary Richard interviewing Maryvonne LeGac
Episode 26: Maryvonne Legac's - Beautiful Rock of Refuge - Narrated by Zachary Richard
00:56 - Zachary describes the movement of groups of Acadian families after the deportation;
05:22 - She talks about her mother, her education, and her love for Acadie;
05:53 - Zach and Maryvonne discuss how being educated helped keep the Acadian memories alive;
06:22 - Maryvonne talks about being a member of the community on Belle-Ile and how they welcome Acadians from all over who are trying to find their roots;
07:45 - Maryvonne shares some local folklore with Zachary
08:26 - Zach and Maryvonne talk about the connection between Louisiana and Belle-Île and between the Acadians everywhere;
09:55 - Zach talks about making a pilgrimage to Belle-Île to learn about and feel the spirit of his ancestors;
10:31 - Zach and Maryvonne talk about Pierre Richard and how Acadians survived on the island during the 1700s;
13:38 - At the village of Kervarigeon, they discuss the history of the Acadians and meet with the descendants of one of the Acadian families from the area;
14:59 - Zach talks about genealogy, how it's not just for one certain type of person, and how it brings people together;
15:43 - Marie-Claire Granger teaches Zach the "Tra-la-la de l'ile;"
17:38 - Band playing for a group of dancers; Zach talks about Acadians and their love of dancing;
18:48 - Zach explains his connection with Belle-Ile to the crowd, then he sings for them;
19:58 - Zach and Maryvonne talk about a sense of belonging that belongs to the Acadians even though Acadie is more of a fictional place now;
21:21 - Zach Richard singing;
Musical Performance by Henry Adams and Band and Interview in French
00:20 - Diggy Liggy La;
02:45 - Home, Sweet Home
05:05 - Interview with Henry Adams' Mother (age 93)
Live Musical Performance with Harmonica and Guitar
33:35 - Jolie Blonde;
35:24 - Jeunes filles de la campagne;
38:00 - Drunkard's Dream;
40:20 - Bosco Blues
42:20 - Goin' to California;
Southwest Louisiana Music Show featuring T.K. Hulin
00:00 - Intro;
00:40 - Alligator Bayou;
04:30 - I’m Not a Fool;
07:55 - I Can’t Turn it Loose;
17:45 - Dixieland;
22:30 - Outro;
23:00 - Johnnie Allan speaking at the end of the show
Southwest Louisiana Music Show Featuring Charles Mann, Jivin' Gene Bourgeois, and Johnnie Allan backed by "Smoke"
00:00 - Johnny Janot - intro;
01:45 - Proud Mary;
07:20 - Keep Your Arms Around Me;
10:08 - It Keeps Rainin;
12:00 - Let the Four Winds Blow;
14:20 - She’s Walkin’ Towards Me;
16:40 - High Heal Sneakers;
18:50 - She’s My Kind of Girl;
21:20 - Red, Red Wine;
24:30 - Johnny Janot Introduces Jivin' Gene Bourgeois;
26:35 - I'm In Love Again;
30:15 - Goin' Out With the Tide;
33:45 - Stagger Lee
37:58 - Go on, Go on;
41:25 - Sick and Tired;
44:35 - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do;
48:30 - Johnny Janot introducing Johnnie Allan;
49:15 - Let’s Go Get Drunk;
53:30 - Lonely Days and Lonely Nights;
56:50 - Sweet Soul Music;
Southwest Louisiana Music Show Featuring Johnnie Allan, Van Broussard, and Grace Broussard backed by "Smoke"
Southwestern Louisiana Music Show – Johnnie Allan;
00:30 - Your Picture;
04:00 - Promised Land;
08:00 - I’m Gonna Lose Myself;
13:00 - South to Louisiana;
Johnny Janot introducing Van Broussard
18:45 - Don’t let the Green Grass Fool You;
22:20 - Just Because;
25:35 - Ooh Poo Pah Doo;
29:20 - Whiskey Heaven;
32:40 - Bony Maroni;
38:10 - Lord, I Need Somebody Bad;
Grace Broussard with Van Broussard
42:45 - Proud Mary;
46:30 - Young Girls;
50:33 - Feel So Good;
54:30 - Leaving it All Up to You
Dutch Radio Show Interview with Johnnie Allan (Part 1)
00:10 - Talking about Clifton Chenier - Johnnie says he's still performing despite health issues;
01:40 - Hey ‘tit fille (Clifton Chenier)
04:30 - Discussing the Zydeco rubboard;
05:55 - Hold onto that Tiger (Rockin’ Dopsie);
08:55 - Discussing Tommy McClain and Clint West;
10:00 - Johnnie’s beginnings playing Cajun music - Everyone on his mother's side of the family all played music. Started his first band when he was 13 years old, went on to play with Lawrence Walker for 6 years. Krazy Kats;
11:20 - Try to Find Another Man (Tommy McClain and Clint West);
14:00 - Playing professionally, releasing "Lonely Days, Lonely Nights," Recording for Jin Records;
16:15 - Popularity of South Louisiana music in Europe;
17:15 - She’s Gone (Johnnie Allan);
19:45 - Discussion about Cajun food – Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee;
22:00 - Little White Cloud (Johnnie Allan)
Interview Ends;
Dutch Radio Show Interview with Johnnie Allan (Part 2)
00:00 - Talking about Cajun people - their personalities, work ethics, entertainment, language;
01:05 - The state of the French language in LA; discussing the school system not allowing French to be used in schools in the 20s and the revival of French being taught in schools;
04:40 - "Alligator Bayou;"
08:30 - Johnnie’s description of Cajun music;
10:30 - Differences between Zydeco and Cajun music;
12:25 - Work ethics of the Cajun people
13:15 - "South to Louisiana;"
16:00 - Explanation of the fais do do;
18:00 - The city of Lafayette - oil boom, population growth;
19:20 - Joe Falcon;
20:00 - "Allons à Lafayette"
22:20 - Discussion about the diatonic "Cajun" accordion;
24:50 - "La queue de tortue" - Nathan Abshire;
26:25 - The T-fer;
27:35 - The Cajun yell;
28:15 - Vin Bruce
28:45 - "Allons danser, Colinda" - Vin Bruce;
French Radio Belaire - Special on Cajun Music
01:20 - Les Acadiens (Michel Fugain)
03:40 - Discussion about Cajuns and Cajun music;
06:00 - Ma Louisiane - Zachary Richard;
09:00 - Discussion - Louisiana French; Punishment for speaking French in schools;
11:10 - Mi'kmaq, Acadians; Grand Derangement;
12:30 - Discussion - Cajun musicians performing in Quebec;
13:00 - Shirley Bergeron talking about the Grand Dérangement;
16:15 - Discussion - Evangeline by Longfellow;
18:45 - Le sud de la Louisiane - Alex Broussard;
22:25 - Evangeline - Dussenbury Family;
25:05 - Discussion - Amplification of South LA music;
28:15 - Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton;
KRVS Interview of Johnnie Allan by Pete Bergeron including a live performance at the 100 Club
01:30 - Pete Bergeron talks to Johnnie about his fifth tour in England;
04:15 - English bands playing Cajun/South Louisiana music;
05:20 - John Broven - author of "South to Louisiana";
Johnny Allan Live at the 100 Club
06:15 - Mathilda;
09:10 - Little White Cloud;
12:00 - This Should Go On Forever;
14:30 - How ‘bout it;
17:45 - Jolie Blonde;
21:00 - Sugar Bee;
24:40 - Leavin’ It Up To You;
27:30 - South To Louisiana;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan at the 100 Club
00:00 - South to Louisiana;
01:30 - Just A Dream;
04:10 - I’m a Fool to Care;
06:05 - The Sea of Love;
08:50 - Opelousas Sosthaine;
12:00 - Allons à Lafayette;
15:10 - Prisoner’s Song;
17:55 - Sweet Dreams;
21:30 - Promised Land;
26:30 - See You Later Alligator;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan (Part 1)
00:10 - Intro and Stage Banter;
03:15 - Hello Josephine;
07:10 - Sweet Soul Music;
10:15 - Your Picture;
14:40 - Ooh Poo Pah Doo;
19:30 - Promised Land;
22:25 - Heaven Sent
26:10 - Let’s Go Get Drunk;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan (Part 2)
00:05 - The Twist;
04:12 - Bony Maroni;
09:05 - Angel Love;
12:10 - I’ve Been Lovin’ You;
18:20 - Lonely Days and Lonely Nights;
Recording of the House Band (name on cassette?)
21:00 - Old Time Rock ‘n Roll;
24:55 - Tomorrow is our Wedding Day;
28:00 - Ya Ya;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan
00:00 - Jolie Blonde
03:00 - Sittin' and Thinkin';
06:25 - Your Picture;
09:25 - I Cried;
12:30 - Lonely Days, Lonely Nights;
15:20 - Pardon, Mr. Gordon;
18:15 - Sea of Love
21:35 - South to Louisiana;
24:30 - Mathilda;
28:00 - Opelousas Sosthaine;
31:00 - Promised Land;
35:00 - Sweet Dreams;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan at the Royal Naval Club
00:30 - Rubber Dolly;
03:45 - Family Rules;
06:40 - Baby, What You Do to Me;
09:55 - Please Accept My Love;
14:10 - Hip et Taieu;
17:30 - Jolie Blonde;
20:30 - Sittin' and Thinkin'
23:30 - Your Picture;
28:28:30 - I Cried;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan at the Royal Naval Club (Part 2)
00:20 - Band Introduction;
03:20 - Lonely Days, Lonely Nights;
07:00 - Pardon, Mr. Gordon;
10:00 - The Secret of Love;
13:15 - South to Louisiana;
17:00 - Mathilda;
21:45 - Opelousas Sosthaine;
25:45 - The Sea of Love;
28:50 - Promised Land;
33:45 - Sweet Dreams;
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan in Vienna, Austria
00:00 - Show intro, Johnnie starts after first song;
00:45 - Harry Simoneaux - Instrumental tune on saxophone;
07:00 - Lucille;
11:00 - J’ai envie de danser;
14:20 - Please Accept My Love;
18:30 - Shake Little Baby
22:05 - I’m a Hog for You, Baby
27:10 - You Got Me Whistlin’
31:45 - Sugar Bee
36:40 - Family Rules
41:45 - Alligator Walk
Live Performance by Johnnie Allan in Vienna, Austria (Part 2)
01:15 - Promised Land
08:50 - Hip et taieau
12:50 - Sweet Little Woman – with Jimmy Anderson
19:15 - Blues tune
Live Performance in London, England by Harry Simoneaux, Belton Richard, Eddie LeJeune and D.L. Menard
Concert with Harry Simoneaux, Belton Richard, Eddie LeJeune, D.L. Menard;
00:45 - See Ya Later Alligator;
04:20 - Walkin With Mr. Lee;
Belton Richard’s Set;
06:55 - Bosco Stomp;
10: 25 - Paradis des musicians;
15:20 - Oh yaille yaille;
18:30 - Lucille;
22:55 - Les flammes d’enfer;
26:00 - Une autre soir ennuient;
29:45 - Laisse la musique jouer;
33:15 - I’ll Have To Forget You
37:50 - Sugar Bee
Eddie Lejeune and D.L. Menard;
46:00 - The Water Pump
Live Performance in London, England - Eddie LeJeune and D.L. Menard
00:45 - The Water Pump;
04:20 - ‘Tit gallop pour Mamou;
07:25 - En bas du chêne vert;
12:55 - Lacassine Special;
16:15 - Teche Special;
19:20 - J’ai laissé ma famille dans les misères;
22:20 - La porte d'en arrière;
27:40 - Lonesome Whistle;
31:00 - Wildwood Flower;
35:00 - Bayou Pon Pon;
39:20 - When I Met You;
43:00 - J’ai étais au bal
Musikladen - West German Television Show Featuring Johnnie Allan
00:42 - Johnnie Allan - Promised Land;
05:05 - Frankie Smith - Yoyo Champ;
08:00 - Al Bano and Romina Power - Che Angelo Sel;
10:50 - Madness - Tomorrow's Just Another Day;
13:50 - Missing Persons - Destination Unknown;
16:50 - Renee and Renato - Just One More Kiss;
19:55 - Mike Batt - Love Makes You Crazy;
22:28 - Imagination - Changes
25:30 - Bucks Fizz - If You Can't Stand the Heat;
28:20 - The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men;
31:33 - Gloria Gaynor - Stop in the Name of Love;
34:25 - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes - Up Where We Belong;
38:35 - Sheila B. Devotion - Singing in the Rain;
40:45 - Shakin' Stevens - Your Ma Said You Cried;
Jools Holland in Walkin' to New Orleans - Featuring Fats Domino, Sting, Lee Dorsey, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Johnnie Allan, and Rockin' Dopsie
Jools Holland - Tours South LA
Part 1
12:00 - Gospel Group;
15:30 - Interview and song clips with Fats Domino - "They Call me the Fat Man;" "Walkin to New Orleans;" "Rock 'n Roll;"
22:25 - Johnnie Allan - "Promised Land" - Lip synced performance with Belton Richard;
Part 2
26:10 - Jools drives through New Iberia, LA. Quick shot of the abandoned Evangeline Theatre;
27:30 - Mamou, LA - Fred's Lounge - Sady Courville, Preston Manuel and others
31:30 - Storyville, New Orleans - Unknown Band;
33:45 - Lafayette, LA - Rockin' Dopsie at Grant Street Dancehall;
40:00 - New Orleans, LA - Unknown bar and band;
45:45 - Dr. John - Such a Night;
50:30 - Jools drives around the French Quarter
55:00 - Lee Dorsey - Workin' in a Coal Mine;
58:58 - The Neville Brothers - "Why You Wanna Hurt My Heart" and "Big Chief;"
01:03:15 - Jools talks about Professor Longhair and Tipitina's;
01:05:00 - Allen Toussaint - "Tipitina"
01:10:00 - Jools Holland song;
Johnnie Allan and the Memories Perform at the Liberty Theatre, News Segment - "Born to be a Loser," Book that Johnnie Allan Wrote About Jimmy Donley
00:20 - Promised Land;
03:30 - Barry talks about origins of Swamp Pop;
04:55 - Lonely Days, Lonely Nights;
08:30 - Sweet Soul Music;
11:30 - I Wonder Where You Are Tonight;
17:10 - South to Louisiana;
20:25 - I Can't Turn You Loose;
25:25 - Your Picture;
29:00 - Na Na Na Na
33:30 - Family Rules;
37:35 - Boney Maronie;
42:35 - Mathilda;
45:00 - Interview with Jim Olivier - Dr. Berice Webb and Johnnie Allan discuss book written about Jimmy Donley
Johnnie Allan and the Memories Perform at the Liberty Theatre, News Segment - "Born to be a Loser," Book that Johnnie Allan Wrote About Jimmy Donley
00:00:05 - Mama and Daddy - Music Video;
Footage from a performance at the Liberty Theatre
00:02:28 - South to Louisiana;
00:05:00 - Johnnie introduces Pete Bergeron as Pete Marlow - Marlow was Pete's stage name as a Swamp Pop singer;
00:05:30 - Family Rules;
00:09:10 - Boney Maronie;
00:13:45 - Your Picture;
00:18:50 - Promised Land;
00:22:35 - We'll Always Be Your Friend;
Footage from Unknown Venue;
00:25:10 - Boney Maronie;
00:29:05 - I'm Missing You;
00:33:15 - Give Me One More Chance;
00:36:55 - Let's Go Get Drunk;
00:41:30 - Before the Next Teardrop Falls;
00:45:30 - The Twist;
00:49:40 - Family Rules;
00:54:10 - Sweet Soul Music;
00:55:00 - Lonely Days and Lonely Nights;
00:58:50 - South to Louisiana;
01:01:30 - Unknown Song;
01:02:50 - Lucille;
01:06:50 - Secret of Love;
01:16:20 - Mathilda;
01:20:00 - Allons a Lafayette
01:21:50 - Your Picture;
01:26:15 - Turn Your Lights Down Low;
01:30:20 - I'm Missing You;
Bayou Boogie Show with Herman Fuselier
01:33:20 - Johnnie talks about his new CD - "The Ultimate Louisiana Experience"
01:36:15 - Johnnie says he's recorded around 60 45RPM singles and 30 albums;
01:36:55 - Johnnie talks about his tours of Europe;
01:38:40 - "Promised Land" going gold
01:39:20 - Johnnie talks about his book about Jimmy Donley and his book "Memories"
01:41:00 - Talking about local clubs
01:41:50 - "Promised Land" performance
01:45:10 - Jim Olivier Segment about Swamp Pop music; Johnnie Allan - "I Love That Swamp Pop Music"
01:48:35 - Jim Olivier interviews Shane Bernard, Interview segments with David Rachou, Mark Miller, and Floyd Soileau;
01:55:00 - Tommy Mclain performs "Sweet Dreams"
Jambalaya de Musique at Acadian Village
Hosted By Johnnie Allan
Backing Band:
Rufus Thibodeaux - Fiddle;
Gerald Melancon - Drums;
Glenn Hymel - Keyboards;
Rick Benoit - Bass
Pat Smith - Lead Guitar
Willie Tee - Saxophone and Vocals;
Paul Duhon - Bones
00:00:15 - A Little Bit of Your Love - Huey Darby;
00:04:25 - Jolie Blonde - Johnnie Allan;
00:07:20 - Lake Arthur Stomp - Rufus Thibodeaux;
00:11:00 - The Rose - Ginger Gautreaux;
00:15:10 - When Will I Be Loved Ginger Gautreaux;
00:19:20 - Cotton Fields - Ginger Gautreaux;
00:21:39 - Wake Up - Willie Tee;
00:26:27 - When I Get the Blues - Harry Hypolite;
00:29:10 - Unnamed Blues tune - Harry Hypolite;
00:34:00 - Cotton Picken Blues - Warren Caesar;
00:38:00 - Laisser les bons temps rouler - Warren Caesar;
00:40:45 - Interview with Johnnie Allan,
00:43:00 - Interview with Rufus Thibodeaux;
00:46:35 - Tonight's a Good Night - Morris Francis;
00:52:25 - Foot Stompin' Music - Morris Francis;
00:58:40 - A Whole Lotta Fun In Acadiana - Morris Francis;
01:01:15 - Prisoner Song - Warren Storm;
01:05:45 - Lord, I Need Somebody Bad - Warren Strom;
01:10:55 - Jolie Blonde - Rufus Thibodeaux and Warren Storm;
01:17:00 - My House of Memories - Warren Storm;
01:21:50 - Promised Land - Johnnie Allan;
01:26:00 - Medley of Lonely Days and Lonely Nights, Family Rules, Angel Love - Johnnie Allan;
01:30:20 - Na Na Na Na - Johnnie Allan;
01:37:30 - I've Been Loving You Too Long - Johnnie Allan;
01:42:20 - South To Louisiana - Johnnie Allan;
01:46:03 - Jukebox Songs - Tommy Mclain;
01:49:45 - I'm Not Lisa -
01:52:45 - City Cruise - Tommy Mclain;
01:55:45 - Sweet Dreams - Tommy Mclain;
Jambalaya de Musique at Acadian Village
Same as AL2-006, Includes show finale
Hosted By Johnnie Allan
Backing Band:
Rufus Thibodeaux - Fiddle;
Gerald Melancon - Drums;
Glenn Hymel - Keyboards;
Rick Benoit - Bass
Pat Smith - Lead Guitar
Willie Tee - Saxophone and Vocals;
Paul Duhon - Bones
00:00:15 - A Little Bit of Your Love - Huey Darby;
00:04:25 - Jolie Blonde - Johnnie Allan;
00:07:20 - Lake Arthur Stomp - Rufus Thibodeaux;
00:11:00 - The Rose - Ginger Gautreaux;
00:15:10 - When Will I Be Loved Ginger Gautreaux;
00:19:20 - Cotton Fields - Ginger Gautreaux;
00:21:39 - Wake Up - Willie Tee;
00:26:27 - When I Get the Blues - Harry Hypolite;
00:29:10 - Unnamed Blues tune - Harry Hypolite;
00:34:00 - Cotton Picken Blues - Warren Caesar;
00:38:00 - Laisser les bons temps rouler - Warren Caesar;
00:40:45 - Interview with Johnnie Allan,
00:43:00 - Interview with Rufus Thibodeaux;
00:46:35 - Tonight's a Good Night - Morris Francis;
00:52:25 - Foot Stompin' Music - Morris Francis;
00:58:40 - A Whole Lotta Fun In Acadiana - Morris Francis;
01:01:15 - Prisoner Song - Warren Storm;
01:05:45 - Lord, I Need Somebody Bad - Warren Strom;
01:10:55 - Jolie Blonde - Rufus Thibodeaux and Warren Storm;
01:17:00 - My House of Memories - Warren Storm;
01:21:50 - Promised Land - Johnnie Allan;
01:26:00 - Medley of Lonely Days and Lonely Nights, Family Rules, Angel Love - Johnnie Allan;
01:30:20 - Na Na Na Na - Johnnie Allan;
01:37:30 - I've Been Loving You Too Long - Johnnie Allan;
01:42:20 - South To Louisiana - Johnnie Allan;
01:46:03 - Jukebox Songs - Tommy Mclain;
01:49:45 - I'm Not Lisa -
01:52:45 - City Cruise - Tommy Mclain;
01:55:45 - Sweet Dreams - Tommy Mclain;
Treaters with Johnnie Allan - Live from Peanut's Lounge
The Treaters;
00:01:00 - La valse de Holly Beach;
00:03:25 - Irene;
00:07:25 - La porte d'en arrière;
00:10:15 - Dance and Show Off (Rockin' Sidney tune);
The Treaters with Johnnie Allan;
00:13:50 - Boney Maronie;
00:17:50 - I'm Missing You;
00:22:05 - Fools Must Cry;
00:26:00 - Let's Go Get Drunk;
Musical Performance by Lionel Leleux, Varise Connor, and Eric and Edgar Benoit
***Copy of AN1-086 and AN1-240?***
Lionel Leleux (Violin), Varise Connor (Violin), Eric & Edgar Benoit (Guitar)
Lionel Leleux:
0:00 - 'La Valse de Holly Beach'
-'Waltz de Bascom Mouton' (La malheureuse)
5:00 - Honey in the Rock
-Grand Night Special
Varise Connor:
11:10 - Untitled Waltz in G
-'If You Don't See Your Mama Every Night'
17:20 - 'Grand Mamou in D'
19:50 - 'Grand Basile'
-'Down South'
24:29 - 'Air' (St. Louis Blues?)
Interview with and musical performance by Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux and Michael Doucet
Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Michael Doucet (Violin), Eric & Edgar Benoit (Guitar)
0:00 - 'J'ai été au bal in D'
1:47 - 'Reno Waltz'
-J'ai passé devant ta porte
7:42 - Grand Mamou
-Grand Basile
11:34 - J.B. Fuselier played accordion and fiddle. Moved to Lake Arthur to play with Varise and Murphy (Varise's youngest brother) for about 3 years
-Death of Iry LeJeune. Varise never played with Iry. He played with J.B. on accordion and brother Murphy on guitar
-Weren't guaranteed pay, maybe would get 50% of door during the Depression
-Varise got tired of it and quit playing around 1930s. Crowd would come, but they didn't have the money to get in
-Then J.B. left to play with Iry after that
-J.B. Fuselier reunion after 40 years
-Andy was in the hospital and Varise decide to look him up in the phone book, call him and go visit him
-He was standing outside at the road waiting for Varise and they hugged
-He didn't play anymore and showed Varise his garden. He then told Varise he had an accordion and a fiddle inside
-J.B. was never ashamed to be on the bandstand with Varise
14:48 - String Band music. Oldest brother played bass ("bull fiddle"), youngest brother played guitar
-Varise played fiddle, first cousin played second fiddle (no harmonies, just behind)
-Joe Falcon's first record. Everybody wanted to play accordion after that
-Changed some of the music, wasn't the old fiddle music like before
-Limitations of the accordion. 10 keys/actually 20 notes. Everything sounds almost alike after 2 or 3 tunes
-Like a banjo. So many more chords on violin, C, D, G, A chords makes all the difference
-Varise does like a good accordion player like Nathan Abshire. Nathan was raised in Riceville, Varise doesn't recall playing with him
-Amédé Breaux's brother and sister. Ophé and Cleoma Breaux
-He wanted Varise to come take his place so he could go dance with a pretty woman
18:40 - Varise Connor's aunt changed religion and didn't believe in music
-They hadn't seen her in years, and one day she came home and said that it was a shame that Varise, his brother, and his father didn't play church hymns
-What they played was a sin because it's a dance music. What goes on in a man's mind when he's holding a pretty girl in his arms. Made his father laugh
-Might be a sin, but Varise won't ever change his style of playing
-Difference between string band and accordion music. Grand Mamou and Grand Basile for the accordion. Diesel?
Fiddle tunes:
-'Chère joues roses'
-'Chère bassette' (starts on turn)
-J.B. had 2 wives and named a song after each one, 'Chère bassette' and 'Chère bouclette'
Interview with and musical performance by Lionel Leleux, Varise Connor, Michael Doucet and Eric and Edgar Benoit
Lionel Leleux (Violin), Varise Connor (Violin), Michael Doucet (Violin), Edgar Benoit (Guitar)
0:00 - 'Lake Arthur Stomp'
1:58 - 'Petite flamme bleue' (frag.)
-'Petite flamme bleue'
4:22 - 'Over the Seas'
8:48 - Recording stories. Violin he (Barry?) bought with John Henry and wanted him to teach him
-The guy had dark hair and glasses; the guy was Lionel. Taking pictures
-'Flammes d'enfer' (frag.). Lionel will sing Hathway Two Step (joking)
-'Flammes d'enfer'
13:03 - 'La dernière valse' with vocals
-'Hathaway Two-Step'
21:08 - Varise tells Lionel to get closer to him. Untitled Bascom Mouton Waltz
Musical Performance by Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux, Eric Benoit and Edgar Benoit
Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Eric & Edgar Benoit (Guitar)
0:00 - 'Carroll County Blues' (St. Louis Blues?)
3:38 - Lionel knows enough to where he knows he doesn't know everything.
-Some people know just enough to think they know everything
-'Honey in the Rock'?
5:57 - 'La valse de Grand Bois'
"If you can dance a pretty waltz with a woman, she will never refuse to marry you"- Varise Connor's father
Story about Bascom Mouton preparing for a dance/rosining his bow. "People, I didn't come here to cause y'all pain." - Bascom Mouton
10:16 - 'The Rabbit Stole the Pumpkin'
Bascom Mouton tuned his fiddle so high, Varise thought it would explode. His voice was high enough to sing with it
Songs:
'J'ai été au bal'
'La vieille malheureuse in D'
'It Ain't Gonna Rain No More'
'Sabine Blues'
'Dis bye-bye à ta mame' (Mon cher bébé créole)
'Perrodin Two Step'
'Untitled Two Step'
Interview with and musical performance by Varise Connor, Eric Benoit, and Michael Doucet
Varise Connor (Violin), Eric Benoit (Guitar), Michael Doucet (Violin)
0:00 - Story of visit with Bascom Mouton and tuning high. Ulysse Fontenot was the best rhythm man Varise ever had
-'Creole Waltz'. '7th fret in B'. Lionel wrote to his son in the army and said there's something he's never heard before
-Just figured out lately how it was tuned. Easier to tune guitar up (2nd fret)
-'American Two-Step'
-'Sawmill Two-Step'. Varise never names tunes, just makes up tunes
5:30 - Lionel's visit with Varise and drinking whiskey out of teacups so ladies wouldn't know
-Lionel left with Barry but left his keys and everything at Varise's. By the time he got back to Lake Arthur, it was almost daylight
-Lionel wouldn't find his way back until he had another drink
-'Old Cajun Waltz'
9:20 - Old guitar Eric played when he was younger. Back of guitar had different colors of wood
-Hummingbirds, butterflies, flowers. From Mrs. Henry Rupert. Andy learned on that guitar
-Schexnyder from Crowley makes arch top guitars/fiddles
-He makes everything except the strings and pegs. Like LeLeux making fiddles
11:48 - 'Kentucky in G'
-'La valse du soûlard'
16:43 - 'Westphalia Waltz'
-Last dance was just as energetic/lively as the first one. Didn't have to drink to be like that. Very likable fellow
-He might not have won contests, but Varise liked his style. Cajun and Spanish music was livelier than any other music
-But Cajuns break rules by playing one tune, then taking parts of other tunes to make a new one
-Bascom's wife backed him up on guitar, "but she only knew one note" according to Varise
-He would dance in his chair and would break factory chairs. Only homemade chairs could handle him
22:26 - Bascom told Lionel about the first time he saw Varise
-There's a Connor in Lake Arthur who plays real well, but not very loud
-Big fingers on guitar look like hammerhead. Ulysse Fontenot as rhythm man
23:17 - Bascom Mouton tune - 'The Rabbit Stole the Pumpkin'
25:25 - Bascom Mouton would sing. Use of kazoo in his songs. Tuning fiddle so high and singing so high. Excited
-'You'd Better See Your Mama Every Night' (like Bascom in D/Varise plays it in G)
Musical performance by Michael Doucet, Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux and Edgar Benoit
Michael Doucet (Violin), Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Edgar Benoit (Guitar)
0:00 - Michael Doucet: 'La valse des Cherokees'
-Lionel Leleux: 'Lacassine Special' (fragment)
-'Lacassine Special' (reprise)
5:58 - Michael Doucet: 'Dans la misère'
-'Chère bouclette'
-'Chère bassette'
8:29 - 'Chère bassette in D' (fragment)
-'La valse de Grand Bois' (Doc Guidry's version) (fragment with Varise Connor)
-the same as 'Jolie blonde', 'Jolie brune', and 'La fille de la veuve' according to Lionel
12:36 - 'La vielle valse' à Bascom Mouton ('La malchanseuse')
-'La valse de Grand Bois' (with Lionel Leleux)
-'Valse sans titre in D'
17:37 - 'Westphalia Waltz in G'
20:37 - 'La valse des rangers in F', Varise prefers it in C
-'Beautiful Bunch of Daisies'
Musical performance by Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux, Edgar Benoit and Eric Benoit
Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Edgar or Eric Benoit (Guitar)
0:00 - 'Lake Arthur Stomp' (4 parts); 'Lake Arthur Stomp' (Variation)
3:21 - change of tuning; 'Lake Arthur Stomp' (variation); Swing/Blues
6:34 - 'La valse à deux temps' (Untitled); 'La valse à défunt Andy'
10:13 - Untitled Two-Step (M & S Special?); 'Le rêve du diable'
12:27 - 'Fi Fi Poncho'; 'Jolie blonde'
15:04 - 'Chère toute toute'; 'Valse à Bascom'
19:10 - 'Lake Arthur Stomp' (Variation with two violins), 'La dernière valse' (two violins)
23:17 - 'Valse à Bascom' (two violins)
Musical performance by Michael Doucet, Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux and Edgar Benoit
Michael Doucet (Violin), Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Edgar Benoit (Guitar)
0:00 - Lionel's son was at a camp in Columbia, South Carolina. Violin wood cut Oct. 1957
-1923/24/25, Lionel listening to Bascom from outside the dancehall
-Bascom Mouton dances at Red Hall in 1924/25. Had to invite girl to dance and if you danced too close, her mother would come and separate you
-Bascom was preparing to play dance/rosining up his bow and the people were watching him, so he told them, "People, I didn't come to cause you pain/misery"
-violin without varnish
3:59 - making violins; one-piece back. 70 pieces in a violin including pegs, strings, lining & purfling
-20 pieces in each two-piece back/top,18 without block, 6 blocks, head, 4 pegs, 4 strings, fingerboard, nut, tailpiece, end pin, tail gut, etc.
-'Perrodin Two-Step' (frag.)
6:59 - 'La valse de Reno'; 'La valse de Reno' (variation with vocals)
11:56 - 'Down South'; 'If You Don't See Your Mama Every Night in G'
17:22 - 'Bascom Mouton's style'; 'Sabine Blues in D'
20:33 - 'Chère toute toute'
***Only month and year were included in original notes, no specific day***
Musical performance by Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux and Don Montoucet
Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Don Montoucet (Accordion), Barry Ancelet (Guitar)
0:00 - 'Hathaway Two-Step'; talking, offering beer and coffee
-Lionel telling Barry when to come in on 'Chère Alice'
-Lionel and Don choreographing/discussing the order of the song (turning it vs. playing it like Lawrence Walker)
6:27 - 'Chère Alice'; Practicing 'Chère Alice'
11:24 - 'Jeunes filles de la campagne'. Singing first (in wrong "gear"/key)
12:28 - Accordion starts; 'Jolie catin'/'Eunice Two-Step'
19:57 - 'La dernière valse' (frag.); 'Eunice Two Step' (reprise)
23:36 - 'Love Bridge Waltz' ('Eunice Two Step' as a waltz)
27:51 - 'Dans les misères' ('Lacassine Special' as a waltz)
30:28 - 'Lacassine Special'
***Only month and year were included in original notes, no specific day***
Musical performance by Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux, Don Montoucet, and Eric Benoit
Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Don Montoucet (Accordion), Eric Benoit (Guitar)
Varise Connor:
0:00 - 'Chère bouclette' (J.B. Fuselier's version, almost like Chère bassette)
3:18 - 'Mazurka des Aguillards'; tuning fiddle
7:22 - Varise can play 'Sugar Foot Rag'/'Black Mountain Rag'/'Devil's Dream' ('Contredanse/Square Dance')
-Varise is having trouble playing how he wants; 'Lake Arthur Stomp'
10:29 - 'Maiden's Prayer'/'La prière de la vieille fille'; Kentucky
14:56 - 'Hobson'; 'St. Louis Blues'?
Lionel Leleux and Don Montoucet:
17:49 - 'Jolie blonde'. Barry jokes she'll be a "Jolie grise" when she gets old/gray hair
22:22 - 'J'ai été au bal'; Guests from Washington D.C. speak a little French; 'J'ai été au bal' - reprise with voice (Barry Ancelet)
28:34 - Varise compliments everyone (Barry sang well, Leleux can't help but be good, and Don made no mistakes)
29:40 - 'Je peux pas t'oublier'
***Only month and year were included in original notes, no specific day***
Interview with and musical performance by Varise Connor, Lionel Leleux, and Don Montoucet
Varise Connor (Violin), Lionel Leleux (Violin), Don Montoucet (Accordion)
0:00 - 'La valse du soûlard'; getting Varise a couple of drinks; 'Westphalia Waltz'; talking/taking photos
6:29 - 'Down South'. Learned it from Hubert Fontenot on fiddle about 4 years ago
-Heard others play it. Not old, not new either. Heard jazz bands play that same melody; tuning guitar
10:38 - 'Grand Basile in D'; 'Perrodin Two-Step' (learned it from one of his uncles who played accordion; Hayes)
16:53 - 'The Rabbit Stole the Pumpkin' (Two-Step à Bascom Mouton). "It takes a lot of steam to fire up a rusty boiler." - Varise
-Varise not content with the way he's playing; Varise knew Bascom Mouton in his prime, 1924/25
19:48 - 'J'ai été au bal'. "That's one Leleux can really play well" - Varise
-Bascom played songs like "The Rabbit Stole the Pumpkin," "Sabine Blues," and "You'd Better See Your Mama Every Night."
-He had the highest voice of anyone Varise had ever heard; noodling around with "In The Mood"
23:08 - 'Sabine Blues'; Bascom played that song, but so did Jazz bands
-He didn't have much of a band, just one guitar and two fiddles
-His guitar player was his brother-in-law for sure, maybe the other fiddler was his wife's cousin
-Both were Thibodeauxs. Bascom also played the kazoo and make it sound like a trumpet
26:53 - 'You'd Better See Your Mama Every Night in D'
27:15 - in G; not supposed to be played very fast, like blues. Sung in English
-"You don't see your mama every night, treat her right, you won't have no mama at all."
-Varise played this song with his brothers, "they could rock and roll on that."
30:54 - 'St. Louis Blues'
***Only month and year were included in original notes, no specific day***
Musical performance by Varise Connor
Varise Connor:
0:00 - 'St. Louis Blues'. Used to play with his brothers in 1930s
-'Carroll County Blues'. Almost identical to 'St. Louis Blues'; Blues has been a part of Cajun music for a while
3:14 - 'Lake Arthur Stomp'; 'Lake Arthur Stomp' (reprise). He heard it before, but not like this
-Varise worked on it until he got it to where it is now
7:45 - 'Lake Arthur Two-Step'; switching fiddles. rocking the bow; Varise asks if they'd want the "Sugar Foot Rag"
10:48 - 'Chère toute toute'; 'Jolie blonde in A' (Don wanted to hear that)
14:54 - 'La valse à Moreau'; 'Fi Fi Poncho'
18:31 - 'Mon cher bébé créole'/'La valse de samedi soir'. At first, Varise thought it was called "Madame Young."
-Reprise sung by Barry Ancelet. Varise offers to play it in G instead of in D so it'll be easier for Barry to sing
-Barry asks Varise if he knows "Jurez my Lord/Demain c'est pas dimanche (Adieu Rosa)" or "La valse des piniers"
26:21 - 'Creole Waltz'; T'es petite et t'es mignonne
***Only month and year were included in original notes, no specific day***
Musical Performance by Les Frères Balfa/Lionel Leleux, Don Montoucet and the Wandering Aces
Les Frères Balfa (Dewey and Rodney Balfa, Dick Richard, Nonc Allie Young, & Ray Abshire), Lionel Leleux, and Don Montoucet and the Wandering Aces (Sammy Boudreaux; Virgil Montoucet; Terry Montoucet; Hubert Maitre)
0:00 - 'Cypress Inn Two-Step'
4:17 - 'J'ai un cœur cassé' (La Valse de Chagrin); 'J'ai été au bal'
11:33 - 'J'ai été au bal reprise'; Talking on the bandstand
-Dewey's happy to be here, tells the crowd they're from Acadia and Evangeline parishes
-Lawrence Walker from Rayne? left good memories and beautiful songs
15:05 - 'Petits yeux noirs'
19:09 - 'J'ai vu le loup, le renard et la belette'. Learned while they were in France; Barry asking for lights and introduction to last song
-You had some, you ain't gonna get no more of this group (talking to crowd)
-Dewey and Rodney Balfa, Dick Richard, Nonc Allie Young, & Ray Abshire
-The Wandering Aces are coming up next and will probably go past midnight
-Bois Sec (Ardoin) is on his way, he's wet so he has to dry off first (joke)
-Groups from Québec, Belgium, France, and New Orleans want to film dancers
24:55 - 'T'en as eu, t'en auras plus'
29:12 - 'T'en as eu, t'en auras plus' (reprise)
Wandering Aces: Lionel Leleux (violin) and Don Montoucet (accordion), with Sammy Boudreaux (drums), Virgil & Terry Montoucet (accordion & rhythm guitar respectively), & Hubert Maitre (rhythm guitar):
31:50 - 'Chère toute-toute'
36:55 - 'Hathaway Two-Step'
-Hubert sends it out to Tony who works for the highway and his good buddy whose name he doesn't remember, Horace Guidry? and for everyone there tonight
42:12 - Midnight Waltz for all the French people here tonight
46:55 - 'Les flammes d'enfer' with Sammy on vocals
***Only year was included in original notes, no specific month or day***
Musical Performance by the Balfa Brothers with Allie Young and Dick Richard
Les Frères Balfa, Allie Young, Dick Richard
0:00 - Barry welcomes crowd to festival; Hicks Wagon Wheel Special
2:24 - Waltz of No Return
6:15 - Pleure pas mes chers petits yeux bleus
8:34 - Hack à Moreau?
11:39 - Intro to 'Jolie blonde' by A.J.? LeBlanc
-Camera crew from New Orleans Channel 6 wants to film the "Cajun National Anthem" and dancing
-Dewey introduces the band: Ervine "Dick" Richard (fiddle (also plays steel guitar)), Nonc Allie Young from Basile (accordion and store owner), Rodney Balfa (guitar and vocals; brick layer)
14:02 - 'Jolie blonde'
18:27 - 'Les flammes d'enfer'
22:36 - 'La valse criminelle'
28:34 - 'Diggy Diggy Lo in G'
32:20 - Intro to 'Tous les soirs.'
-Traveling to university in the north and finding out it's not originally a Cajun song, but an English tune called "My Conscience is Clear";
-'Tous les soirs'
39:20 - 'Parlez-nous à boire'
43:34 - 'Colinda'
-Many people believe "Colinda" is a name of a girl, but it's actually a type of dance that the old women didn't want their daughters to dance to
46:58 - 'Les barres de la prison'. (Barry Ancelet on vocals?)
***Only year was included in original notes, no specific month or day***