Shorty (Vorris) Leblanc- Boss Cajun

Vorris "Shorty" Leblanc was born in Jefferson Davis Parish on Christmas Eve of 1923. At a early age he took notice of Cajun music being played around him. He soon became accomplished on numerous instruments and taught himself music without reading or writing the music. His nickname came about from the fact that his brothers were over 6 feet tall and he was under that height.

He bought his first accordion, a Sterling, while stationed in Europe during WWII and brought it home with him. During the late 1940's he played with Iry Lejeune and others throughout the area and in 1951, when the Laccassine Playboys split; Shorty replaced Iry on accordion. In 1955 they disbanded and Shorty played with other musicians in the area including Alfred Cormier, Jay Stutes and Charlie Babineaux.

In the late 1950's, he joined Cleveland Crochet's Hillbilly Ramblers, playing a brand of Cajun music blended with some country and pop tunes. In 1960 the group recorded "Sugar Bee" which broke into Billboard's top 100. Following the hit, the group was renamed the Sugar Bees and began to play many bookings in the area. The group was so popular that a West German film company came to Lake Charles in 1963 and made a 30 minute film featuring the band. As a follow up to the hit, the group recorded many sides on the Goldband label in the next couple of years. Included in these recordings was "Boss Cajun".



"Boss Cajun" was recorded in 1961 at Goldband Studios. The band was essentially the Sugar Bees on the recording. Shorty played accordion with Cleveland on fiddle, Jay Stutes on steel guitar, Charlie Babineaux on guitar, Bradley Stutes on bass and Clifton Newman on drums. It features Shorty's great accordion work and rocking guitar work from Charlie Babineaux. The song is similar to Nathan Abshire's "Lake Charles Two Step" recorded in 1950. Shorty's "Boss Cajun" is still played by many groups today.

By 1963, Shorty left the Sugar Bees and formed his own group. They later became the Acadian Aces with Cliff Newman on drums, Benny Martin on guitar, and Jay Stutes on fiddle.  Shorty also recorded with Jimmy C. Newman on his album, Folksongs of the Bayou. 

Resources
Ron Yule- Cajun Dancehall Heyday
with thanks to Winnona Landry for information about her father.
Johnnie Allan- Memories Volume One
Micheal Dupuy