Aldus Roger and The Lafayette Playboys- New Mardi Gras Dance

During Mardi Gras in the rural areas of south Louisiana, communities will dance around to the playing of a Cajun accordion, known as the Mardi Gras dance.




Aldus Roger was born in Carencro in 1915. Growing up his father didn't want him playing the accordion. But Aldus would borrow one and sneak out to the barn and play. By his mid-teens he was playing in public. During the 1940's he formed his group, The Lafayette Playboys. Aldus began to make his mark with his band in the 1950's during the accordion revival.

Aldus looked to Lawrence Walker as a inspiration growning up. He remembers watching Lawrence play and imitating his style. In the Lafayette Playboys, he surrounded himself with professional musicians who were well rehearsed. By the 1950's television stations in south Louisiana provided a few shows aimed at local audiences. By June 1955, KLFY offered viewers a half hour Cajun music program of Aldus and his band.


Aldus and his band were recording for J.D. Miller's Feature label at this time. From the late 50's to the 1960's he recorded for Feature, Swallow and Goldband. In 1960 he returned to recording for Miller on his Cajun Classics label. It was here he recorded another version of his Feature Classic, "Mardi Gras Dance". Miller had previously recorded great Cajun Music on his Fais Do Do and Feature label. Around 1955 he had focused on mainly country and blues. With the recent success of Floyd Soileau's Swallow label, Miller started recording Cajun music again on his new 45 labels.

In 1960 he recorded "New Mardi Gras Dance" for Miller's Cajun Classics. The song is a quick tempo, full sounding instrumental with solos throughout the song. Unlike the early traditional chant, the "dance" would have a bluesy chord progression with room for different musicians to take the lead. Aldus's version of the deeply traditional Mardi Gras Dance took it a step further,being pepped up to a frenzy by rock and roll drumming.

It was recorded in Crowley, Louisiana in 1960 at Miller's Modern Sound Studio. Joining in on this version, it featured the great fiddle work of Doc Guidry. Rounding out the band were Phillip Alleman, Johnny Credeur,Tunice Abshire and Fernest Abshire.

Throughout the 1960's he continued performing on KLFY and recording for La Louisianne. His last released record was for Lanor in 1981.

Resources
Early Cajun Music blog
Lyle Ferbrache- Accadian All Star Special