Aldus Roger and the Lafayette Playboys- "Marie"

Aldus Roger started playing the accordion at eight years old. His father had a accordion and Aldus would steal it and take it to the barn to play. By the age of twenty one he was good enough that he playing local dances, with Art Freme and Felix Richard. 

While he played the dancehalls at night, during the day he would work as a carpenter. He would make his mark when he formed his band, The Lafayette Playboys, in the late forties.

By the late fifties and early sixties, Aldus Roger was one of the most popular figures in the dancehall scene. Aldus was keen on his band being polished and disciplined. The band was always in demand and was known for their danceable sound. The band reached a new highlight when they had a weekly television show on KLFY in Lafayette.

The Lafayette Playboys recorded for various labels through out their career. In 1953, they recorded for the TNT label. In the mid fifties they recorded several sides for J.D. Miller's Feature label. They would record for Eddie Shuler and Floyd Soileau near the end of the decade.

In 1960, Aldus decided that he had served his time and wished to retire. The retirement would be short lived, for in 1962 Aldus was chosen by Roy Theriot to represent Louisiana at the Folklore Festival in Washington D.C. As a result of this, many friends persuaded him to reorganize his band.

Around 1963 Aldus and his band signed on with La Louisianne Records and recorded with them for the most part of the sixties. By 1968 he returned to recording for Floyd Soileau's Swallow Records. 

The band on this session differs from his previous band; Phillip Alleman is replaced by Isaac Miller on steel guitar. Vernon Bergeron plays drums with Louis Foreman and Tony Thibodeaux on fiddle. Rounding out on bass guitar is believed to be Beaver Leger.

By this time, Floyd had built his studio on East Main Street in Ville Platte when Aldus and his band came in to record a new single. Floyd had a multi story open studio at this time so he had the accordion and singer upstairs and the drummer downstairs.

Floyd recalls:

"..and Aldus was famous for drinking a few more beers than he should, and he was drunk and putting the empty beer can on the drummer and he was ruining the take, and finally I said, "Look, we got several great takes on this song, but while don't we do it one more time, and why don't y'all give me a longer finish on it before we end it." And with that in mind, I was able to fade it out and we were able to capture a very good cut on it. And it was a big record for us in Cajun music."

The record would be a moderate hit for Aldus, one many fans still sing and play.

Moi je peut pas t’oublier bebe

Tu sa-vais que moi j’taimer 

Tu sa-vais que moi j’taimer  catin depuis l’age de quartoze ans

Oh Marie catin garde donc ca t’as fait 

Garde donc t’apres m’quitter apres quitter ton pauvre vieux negre bebe 

Aldus slowly stopped putting out records after the Swallow single. He would go on to release two singles for the Acadian Artists label and then returned in the 1980's, releasing a single for Lanor Records. In a interview with Ann Savoy, Aldus was asked about the future of Cajun music:

"I don't know. But I know what's going on now. They don't play right. Belton Richard can play when he wants to, Milton Adams, the Touchets from Kaplan. I also like Reggie Matte, Nolan Cormier. They still got some that can play when they want to, but to me they still play too much rock and roll and country."

                                       

& LAFAYETTE PLAYBOYS

Swallow Studio, Ville Platte LA: 1968

S-45-1021 Be careful, you’re breaking 

my heart Swallow 10196

S-45-1022 Marie Swallow 10196

Resources

Interview with Floyd Soileau

Ann Savoy- Interview with Aldus in Cajun Music Vol 1

notes to La Louisianne 107

Conversation with Michael Dupuy

lyrics- Michael Dupuy