Pee Wee Broussard - " La Valse De Bons Amies"

The end of the 1950's were difficult times for recording Cajun artists. They found themselves having to adapt to current trends. Lawrence Walker recorded upbeat rock and roll songs in English for La Louisianne, Terry Clement recorded rock and roll for Rocko, Nathan added electric guitar and a rock beat to his Kajun recordings. Plain and simple, the times were changing. But some artists kept their traditional sound.

Pee Wee Broussard was one that kept his traditional sound. He had recorded three records for Miller on his Feature label in 1953. His records popped up again when he recorded one record for Stagg's in 1958. And he recorded for Khoury's in 1959.  George Khoury had recorded many of the legendary Cajun dancehall artists starting in 1950.

George Khoury started off his 700 Series with Nathan Abshire in 1956. But in the following years he wasn't concerned with releasing much Cajun music. He would issue one out every once in a while to keep sales up, but that was only one or two. Artists that had once been popular for Khoury's; they left to other labels to find exposure. Nathan left and recorded with Miller and Lawrence left and went to Floyd Soileau to record.

One music ad in the Daily World out of Opelousas shows how the times were. Pee Wee's Khoury's 45's were up against some pretty big names. George Jones's "White Lightning", Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans" and Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennesse" were all big sellers and at top of the charts. The only other Cajun record released on Khoury's that year was Lawrence "Blackie" Fruge's "Elton Two Step".

Pee Wee recorded "La Valse De Bons Amies" during the height of those recordings. It was backed with "New Iberia Stomp" and featured Leon Credeur on fiddle, Ellie Arceneaux on steel guitar, Jules Broussard on guitar and Adam Meaux on drums. It would be released on Khoury's 720 and it would be his last recording on the label; also one of the last Cajun recordings Khoury put out.

Pee Wee kept his job during his early recording days, continuing his day job as a automobile mechanic at Charlie Lamar's Mechanic Shop in Lafayette. He found a new avenue to get his music out on KLFY radio and television. In 1963 he recorded 2 records for La Louisianne Records. He continued to play and influence other artists over the years. In 1974 he recorded the song again with Leeman Prejean under the title "La Valse De Tout L'Mone" on Swallow records.

Resources
Early Cajun Music blog
Micheal Dupuy
Memories-Johnnie Allan