Lee Manuel and "Nonc" Alllie Young with the Basile Cajun Band- "Widowers Wish"

 

"Nonc" Allie Young was born in Basile in 1912. At eight years, old he began playing the accordion and by age ten he was playing house dances. He learned the instrument from watching others play and learned at a fast pace.

As a young man he worked on a farm, but when World War II broke out; he learned the trade of sheet metal. He and his family moved to Orange, Texas so he could work in the shipyards during this time. After the war, they returned to Basile where Allie opened a grocery store which he ran for twenty-eight years.

After his retirement, he played for local events and festivals. He traveled world playing music and playing with many Cajun musicians. In 1983 he organized the Basile Cajun Band.

Lee Manuel was born in 1930. He started playing guitar in 1948 and learned the fiddle in the 1970's. He played in many bands including Maurice Berzas and the Mamou Playboys. He also traveled and played music with Dewey Balfa.

Lee's first recording was with Nonc Allie on a 45 rpm record produced by the CFMA. Lee wrote "Souhait du veuve", Widower's Wish, which was released on a Cajun French Music Association promotional 45 rpm record.

J’aimerais être une petite bétaille

Qui serait bourrée avec de la paille

J’aurais pas de coeur, je jetterais pas de larmes

Et j’aurais jamais eu la chance d’aimer.

Aujourd’hui le Bon Dieu t’as pris

Pour t’emmener au paradis

Moi je suis là moi tout seul

J’ai plus personne pour m’aimer et pour me soigner

J'aimerais être une petite bétaille

Bourée en paille et pendu dessus le plafonage.

J'aurais pas de coeur et je jetterais pas de larmes,

Et j'aurais jamais eu la chance d'aimer.

Aujourd’hui, les enfants pleurent

Et ça demande pour leur maman

Moi je suis là, moi tout seul

Avec des larmes dedans mes yeuxe t le coeur cassé.

Lee was a big promoter of Cajun music and culture. He helped organize the first Cajun music festival in Eunice to benefit the Eunice . From this, the idea of the Cajun French Music Association was born. Lee also did a lot of volunteer work for the CFMA, including fiddle lesson workshops. As president of CFMA, he made plans to establish other CFMA chapters in other cities.

                                         

                                           

                                            

LEE MANUEL

WITH NONC ALLIE YOUNG AND THE BASILE CAJUN BAND

Joseph Lee Manuel (v/fdl), Allie Young (acdn),Claudia (g), Vincent Fontenot (b),

Eston Bellow (d), Donald Ortego (triangle) ,

Elton Cormier Studio, Church Point LA; 1980s

VPAG 3428 Cajun du la Louisianne CFMA 001

VPAG 3429 Souhait du veuve CFMA 001

Resources:

https://www.cajunfrenchmusic.org/

lyrics Guy Ott