The Cajun Squeezebox Shootout

In 1956 I was a young boy,waiting outside the Joy Theater for my parents to “pick me up”,when I heard live Cajun music for the first time. I walked across the street,past Fred’s Lounge to the French Casino,and standing at the front door I heard Cyp and Adam Landreneau playing live Cajun music. I know it was them because the local taxi driver told me so (can’t remember his name). I was hooked on Cajun music from that moment on. Fifteen years later Cyp and Adam would play a couple of tunes at my wedding. The pics illustrated in this clip are of the local musicians that I was exposed to in Mamou from during the ’50′s thru the ’80′s. Not all are actually “from” Mamou but all were around and playing music in Mamou while I was growing up there. Thinking back…it was awesome. I remember as a teenager in 1964,we were gathered at my friend’s (BD Fontenot) home during a holiday season and BD decided we needed music. He left his home and rounded up the Balfa Brothers to join us and play music for our party. We “passed the hat” at the end of the night and gave the money to them in gratitude. But they hadn’t played for the money,they played simply because they and we loved it. Mamou Louisiana would later be named the CAJUN MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. The musicians in this clip are responsible for that honor. There are many more not included in this video. This video is a tribute to those Cajun musicians.

Duration : 0:10:8

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