Pee Wee Broussard- French Accordion Mambo

                           



Born in Henderson, Chester "Pee Wee" Broussard started a band early on in his youth. With his brothers James and Jules, they started the Youngsville Playboys. Later on they expanded the group and formed the     Southern Troubadors, often performing at Club 90 in Port Barre. That group later evolved into the Melody Boys.


 Pee Wee and His Melody Boys got their recording start when Ned Guilbeau, a local DJ, arranged a session at J.D. Millers studio. He recorded three sides for Feature records in Crowley between 1952 and 1953 and didn't have a record come out until 1958. It was then Pee Wee released a record put out by a local music shop in Lafayette.

Stagg's Music Shoppe was purchased on February 1, 1950 from Wilfred Boudreaux, who had been operating the Music Shoppe under the name of Boudreaux Music Shoppe and had been in the music business in Lafayette since 1920. His niece, Louisette Stagg, took over the business from him. The shop was a one stop for those looking for the newest records of the week.

And by the late 50's the rhumba and the mambo were the rage in the country. Country artist Hank Snow had Hank Snow's "The Rhumba Boogie" and "That Crazy Mambo Thing". Mambo madness peaked in the U.S. in the 1950s, and faded as Rock & Roll appeared.  In July of 1957, Nathan Abshire's "Boora Rhumba" hit the market, attempting to jump into the rhumba craze that swept through country music.

And in 1958, so did Pee Wee with "French Accordion Mambo". It was released on the Stagg's label and appears to be the only release from the label, assumingly acting as a promotion for the  record shop.

Accordionist Cameron Dupuy:
           
"I feel that "French Accordion Mambo" is light years ahead of it's time... This particular recording showcases Pee Wee and his edgy sound. It includes grooves and time signatures that weren’t included much in Cajun music prior to its release."


Pee Wee went on to record two sides for the Khoury's label before they folded. He started off the 1960's cutting two records for La Louisianne Records and he also acted as a sideman, playing fiddle in other groups through the years. He influenced many musicians with his style of playing and all the while he kept his day job as a mechanic at Charlie Lamar's Mechanic Shop in Lafayette. During this time he could also be heard on KLFY radio.

Louisette Stagg ran the Stagg's Music Shoppe in Lafayette and New Iberia for 25 years. Afterwards they retired and the business was sold to Gibert Ray Futch.





                                         

Resources:
Broven-South to Louisiana
Early Cajun Music Blog
with thanks to Cameron Dupuy



Session info

Acdn, remainder unknown
Possibly Lafayette LA: 1958
J8OW 4577 French accordion mambo (inst) Stagg’s 101
J8OW 4578 Cankton waltz (instrumental) Stagg’s 101