J.B. Fuselier- "Think of Me"

                                         

Jean Baptiste "J.B." Fuselier was born April 17, 1901 near Oberlin. He began playing the fiddle at five years of age. He claims at that age he was too small to pick it up, so he had to place it on the bed to play. He also learned the accordion when he was young.

By the mid 1930's, J.B. joined Miller's Merrymakers and recorded at four different sessions between 1936 and 1938. When Miller left the group, JB took over the group. His music never gained the popularity of artists such as Leo Soileau and Luderin Darbone.

He had a specific sound of traditional Cajun fiddle playing and emotional singing that was well received. Many musicians were influenced by his playing. His band was also well known for their radio broadcasts during this time. With musicians such as Preston Manuel and Atlas Fruge in the band, they would work live radio shows during the day and play dances at night.

After this J.B. didn't record, but he continued playing with his string band at house parties. It was at these fais do do's that J.B. would bring a accordion and play in between breaks on the fiddle. Musicians like Maurice Barzas credit him to bringing back the accordion's popularity.

By 1945, Fuselier was running a restaurant in Eunice and playing dances every night. Iry LeJeune was a frequent visitor there and befriended J.B., soon he was playing music with him.

In 1955, Fuselier and Iry were involved in a accident which left J.B. severely injured and claimed LeJeune's life.

J.B. stayed in the hospital for over a year, but was soon playing again. Around 1962, he ended up recording for Eddie Shuler's Goldband Records out of Lake Charles. Shuler had found success with Cajun music and had recorded artists like Iry LeJeune and Sidney Brown. 

For his first recording on Goldband, he reached back to one of the songs he had recorded in 1938 called "Ponce A Moi" and retitled it "Think Of Me". The songs describes a abandoned lover urging the other to think of them even though they have parted ways.

J.B. would record again for Goldband in 1966. From those sessions, recordings have surfaced of him and James Stewart where J.B. plays the fiddle again. Fuselier would continue to play until his death in 1976. Many musicians have covered his songs and are now part of standard Cajun repertoire.

                                                                            

Session info:

J B FUSILIER AND HIS ACCORDION (1138)

V/acdn, remainder unknown

Goldband Studio, Lake Charles LA; c1962

-1 (9484) Think of me Goldband 1138

Resources: 

Ron Yule- Wailing the Blues

Wade Falcon- Early Cajun Music Blog