Belton Richard and the Musical Aces- "Pardon Waltz"

                            

Belton Richard was born in Rayne, Louisiana in 1939. He was taught the accordion by his father, Cleby Richard at seven years old. His father had been a accordionist for Adam Hebert on almost all his recordings. By age 12, Belton had a job playing at the West End Bar in Lafayette.

Belton started playing rock and roll with the Cajun Rockers. He played with Calvin Holloway until he was 15, by age 18 he had his own rock band. By 1959, he went back to recording French music and formed the Musical Aces. Belton's heroes in Cajun music were Lawrence Walker and Aldus Roger, his early style contains elements from both of them

With the Musical Aces, they performed at clubs such as the Mid-Way in Breaux Bridge, Club L' Acadienne in Crowley, and the Bon Ton Rouley in Crowley. Soon based on their popularity they were recording.

In 1948, Charles Leon "Dago" Redlich opened Dago’s Record Shop which was a favorite hangout for teenagers listening to the latest records. During this time, he also recorded local swamp pop and Cajun musicians. Redlich's Chamo label was the first one to release records by Belton Richard and the Musical Aces.

In 1962, Belton and the Musical Aces recorded for Redlich's  label out of Crowley. The first recordings the group did for the label were recorded at the local radio station, KSIG in Crowley as well. The group's first release on the label, "Just En Reve" sold well for the group.

Their second release for the label was "Pardon Waltz". The song continues the tradition in Cajun music about the torment of a lost love.

Aujourd'hui moi j'étais après jongler à quelque chose

Toi, t'es pas avec moi et moi j'sus pas avec toi

Une ‘tite erreur qui m’a coincé dedans l’coté

Et là aujourd'hui c'est moi qu'après s'lamenter

Peut-être un jour va venir tu voudras me pardonner

Moi j'vas m'mettre à genou et j'vas jamais te quitter

Mais tout qui reste c'est moi qu'après souffrir

Si toi tu vas pas revenir peut-être

C'est mieux que je dis bye-bye

As the band was developing, Belton had a idea of what he wanted. He wrote a lot of his own songs early on. He built on the legacy of early performers and added to it. The younger generation were looking for something in French to associate with a rock and roll beat and Belton developed a smooth style in this area.  The polished rock-and country influenced sound he developed was representative of the trend in South Louisiana during that time to modernize the music.

For the Chamo label, Belton and the Aces released eight 45 rpm records and one lp. The masters for Chamo 100-101 were purchased by Swallow Records April 12th 1964 and for Chamo 102-108  April 1st 1967.

                                      

 

AND (THE) MUSICAL ACES (Chamo & most Swallow 45s)

V/acdn with probably Waldon ‘Sleepy’ Hoffpauir, Allen Ardoin (fdl), Rodney Miller

(st-g), Johnny Credeur (g), Andy Johnson (b-g), Fernest ‘Man’ Abshire (d)

KSIG Radio, Crowley LA: 1962-1963

CH 504 Pardon waltz Chamo 101,

Resources

Broven South To Louisiana

Johnnie Allan- Memories

Ann Savoy- Cajun Music Vol 1.

lyrics - Michael Dupuy

Show Poster- Wade Walcon

thanks to Christine Stelly

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/acadiana/obituary.aspx?n=charles-l-dago-redlich&pid=174822595&fhid=17232

Aldus Roger- O.S.T. Special

                                       
In 1957 Floyd Soileau quit working for the radio station after noticing that Cajun record releases were getting limited. While at the radio station, he had seen ads from Don Pierce of Starday Records advertising to press records. He collaborated with Ed Manuel to put out one record; but after its release, Manuel lost interest. So Floyd decided to go venture out on his own.

He changed the name to Vee-Pee Records after the town of Ville Plate. By this time, Floyd had made some good connections in the record business and the word was out that a new record company had opened up in Ville Platte. He bought 2 songs from Lawrence Walker for 60 dollars and released them on Vee Pee's first release. For that record he only pressed seven hundred 45's and 300 78's. Soon other artists were knocking at the door.


Aldus Roger and the Lafayette Playboys had recorded previously for J.D. Miller's Feature label in the mid fifties. But when labels such as Miller's and Khoury's slowing their Cajun recording down, artists like Aldus were looking for other labels to release their music. Floyd's label was a relief to artist like Aldus as it gave them a renewed output for their music.

Following Lawrence's example, Aldus went to Floyd to record and put out a record of him and his band. While Floyd didn't have a studio yet, he had to use Miller's studio in Crowley for some of his early releases. It was in 1958 that Aldus recorded "O.S.T Special" at Modern Sound Studio for Vee Pee 103. Floyd had it shipped to Nashville and RCA pressed it with a unique green label.

Aldus was known for having a tight band and this recording finds the band playing in high gear. Doc Guidry joined the band during this time and this recording marks his first record with Aldus. Phillip Alleman played his first dance when he was 11 with Aldus; replacing his brother, Clarence, on guitar and started a 25 year career with Aldus. Fernest “Man” Abshire joined the band around this time; he played with Aldus until his death. Johnny Credeur played with Aldus from 1958 to 1964, joining Belton Richard's group afterwards. Tunice "T Man" played with Aldus  for a couple of years, sadly passing away at age 29. 

O.S.T is in reference to the O.S.T dance hall in Rayne, La. The name is shortened for the Old Spanish Trail, named after a colonial Spanish Highway that connected San Diego, Ca. to St Augustine, Fla. The old route is now mostly made up of Highway 90 that passes thru Crowley and Rayne.

Musician Michael Dupuy says about the record:

"The unique and odd thing about that record is the fact that no other instrument takes a lead. It is strictly accordion with a strong rhythm guitar that echoes a bass at times. Also, there’s no drums being played. I am pretty sure it’s a cabasa."

But with this record, Aldus started a long reign in popularity and this was his most productive era. He would continue his career on a popular television show on KLFY for 15 years. He would go on to record for J.D. Miller again but recording for most of the 1960's at La Louisianne Records. As for Floyd, he would soon discontinue the Vee Pee label and would branch off into two labels; Jin and Swallow.



                                           



Resources:
Broven: South To Louisiana
Early Cajun Music blog
Michael Dupuy
Johnnie Allen- Memories
Picture of Aldus from the Michael Dupuy collection.

Session info:
Acdn with possibly Oran ‘Doc Guidry (fdl), Phillip Alleman (st-g), Johnny Credeur
(g), Tunice Abshire (b-g), Fernest ‘Man’ Abshire (v/d)
Modern Sound Studio, Crowley LA: 1958
VP 103A (J8OW1280) Midway waltz
 (La valse a Alida) Vee Pee 103,
Jin 108, Swallow 110
3003, LP6003
Ace(E) CDCHD743
VP 103B (J8OW 1281)O.S.T. (Cajun) special Vee-Pee 103, Jin 108,
Swallow 110, 3003,
LP6001 LP6007,
Ace(E) CDCHD 743