Iry LeJeune's influences went beyond traditional Cajun music. He was known to have a record collection of 78's by The Carter Family, Bob Wills and Jimmie Rodgers.
Jimmie Rodgers music was a large influence in South Louisiana. Cajun musicians reinterpreted and rearranged his songs from records and radio. Leo Soileau and Mayuse Lafleur met him in Atlanta for a recording session and were thrilled to have meet him.
Iry was known to go wherever to learn and hear the accordion. He not only learned from his father but his great uncle, Angelas LeJeune as well. Iry would travel a mile to visit with Angleas who introduced him to his records on the phonograph. There he would here Amede Ardoin, Joe Falcon and Amadie Breaux. Angelas would play a record for Iry then challenge him to "see what he could do with that."
Around 1951 Iry and his family moved into a house in Ardoin Cove. While Iry's first recordings were done at the studio of KPLC in Lake Charles, it was becoming a hassle to schedule a recording session there. Eddie Shuler purchased a tape recorder and was soon recording Iry in his home.
These sessions were not just for recording but served as a house party. In addition to the musicians, family members and friends would attend to listen and enjoy food prepared by Iry's wife.
Eddie released these recordings on his Folk- Star label as he intended it to be a "folk" label. But he soon found out jukebox operators would only buy so many copies of one label, so he released Iry's recordings on his Goldband label as well.
At Eddie's second session at the house in Ardoin Cove, Iry drew inspiration from the 78's he heard on Angelas's phonograph and recorded a ode to Jimmie Rodgers called "Grand Bosco".
J'ai le pays dans la jogue,
J'ai le bouchon dans l'autre main,
J'ai le pays dans la jogue,
J'ai le bouchon dans l'autre main,
Ta femme est "gone",
Et ton tit veau est crevé de la faim.
Si tu me vois dessus le chemin,
"Gone to" grand Bosco,
Si tu me vois sur le chemin,
Parti-z- à grand Bosco,
Parti-z- (avec) une bâle (botte) de foin,
Pour mon ’tit veau.
Ta maison est brûlée,
Et ta femme elle est pas là,
Ta maison est brûlée,
Ta femme elle est pas là,
Elle a quitté hier au soir,
Pour s’en revenir avec moi.
Cleoma Falcon had used the same bluesy melody on "Raise Your Window High", but the song identifies more with Jimmie Rodgers "Blue Yodel No. 7". On the recording, Iry has Wilson Granger on fiddle and Alfred Cormier on guitar backing him.
Iry would also use the same melody into "It Happened To Me" which was recorded around the same time. After tiring of Eddie Shuler, Iry would buy his own recorder and record songs. On it, Iry would record several more songs by Jimmie Rodgers. Sadly these recordings have never been released.
Resources
Ryan Brasseaux- Cajun Breakdown
Ron Yule- Wailin the Blues Cajun Style
Wade Falcon- Early Cajun Music Blog
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