Sidney Brown-Pestauche Ah Tante Nana

Born in Church Point in 1906, Sidney Brown was raised in Point Noir until the family moved to the Richie Community. His uncle had a accordion and Sidney learned to play on it. He steal the accordion and sit in the cotton rows and play. He was self taught on the instrument and by the age of 13, he was playing house dances in the area.

As a young man he worked as a roughneck in the oilfields, eventually moving from the Ville Platte to Lake Charles. He found a job a job in woodworking where he could use his skills. At this point Sidney had already begun developing his skills toward making and repairing accordions while he held down his job at the Lake Charles Sash and Door Company.

After World War II Sidney formed the Traveler Playboys. By 1948, Sidney Brown and the Traveler Playboys were playing on KPLC on a weekly thirty minute program. In addition to shows with his band; from 1952 to 1959, Sidney performed with the Musical 4+1 and the Hillbilly Ramblers.

Around 1955, Sidney and the Travelers began recording for Eddie Shuler's Goldband label. At this point, Eddie had been inspired by the response to Iry LeJeune's records selling so well to record more Cajun music. After the first record, the band's record sales increased and so did offers of personal appearances.

In 1958, Sidney and his band recorded "Pestauche Ah Tante Nana", also known as the Peanut Song. The song went on to become the third best selling record in the history of Cajun music. Originally titled "La Pistache a Trois Nana" or even "La Pistache a Quatre Nanan", it seems to stem from a older tune. It seems the change of wording was no accident; it was a example of Sidney's sense of humor.

S’en aller chez Nonc’ 'Tave,
Ça plante la belle récolte,
Du coton et du maïs,
Et la pistache à Tante Nana.

C’est ça qu’est si bon,
Grillé à dans l’bas du "stove",
Le temps mouillasseux,
La pistache à Tante Nana.

Ils est belle et si mignonne,
Tu dis on l'aime autant, 
Ses ça j'ai t'en aller, 
Et la pistache à Tante Nana.

S’en aller chez Nonc’ Charles,
Ça plante la belle récolte
Du coton et du maïs,
Et la pistache à Tante Nana.

While the song itself is subject to different interpretation; it didn't affect the song's popularity. The song was released in 1958 and Sidney and his band would go on to record many more sides for Goldband until 1960. Besides the many clubs they played, they also appeared on KPLC radio.

Another interesting bit about the record is that Shuler released two versions of the song. There are two released versions of Goldband 1061. The first featured "Noir Chaussettes Two Step" with "Pestauche Ah Tante Nana" was released in 1958. 

Shuler released the same numbered record again in the late 1960's! The later version featured "Chico Two Step" and a overdubbed version of "Pestauche Ah Tante Nana". The overdubbed version featured  Hugh Johnson on fiddle, Mervin Faul on steel guitar, Darrell Higginbotham on guitar and Albert Miller on drums.

Around 1960, Sidney lost his eye sight in one eye due to diabetes and in 1963 he was forced to abandon performing due to a heart condition. He spent the remainder of his years building and repairing accordions, producing many which are still in use today.





Resources
Early Cajun Music Blog
Ron Yule-Cajun Dancehall Heyday

Release info

HIS FRENCH ACCORDION & TRAVELLER PLAYBOYS (1061)
Acdn, Vinus Lejeune (v/fdl),Wallace Ogea (g),Tilford McClelland (st-g), Bill Matte
(d)
Goldband Studio, Lake Charles LA; 1958
-A or -1 Noir chaussette’s two step
-B or -2 Pestauche ah Tante Nana-2 Goldband 1061,