Pee Wee Broussard- "Cankton Waltz"

                                                                             

Pee Wee Broussard recalled at 6 or 7 years, walking across the field to listen to Black Alleman play his accordion. He would sit close and listen to the songs they played and take it in to learn.

Later on, when he worked the fields, he would take the accordion with him. Whenever the mule needed a break, he would practice on it. While the mule didn't like the sound of the accordion, Pee eventually learned "Fee Fee Poncheaux" as his first song.

He formed a band with his brothers playing dances for two years. They stopped playing French music in 1938, when country and western took over. Later on, Pee Wee started playing accordion again and formed The Melody Boys.

In 1950, Pee Wee had signed a contract with Goldstar Records. After Harry Choates had died, they seemed to want someone to replace him. Sadly, Pee Wee got his hand cut when he attempted to stop a knife fight. After a dance, the band was headed back home in the car and a band member tried to cut the drummers neck. Pee Wee tried to stop him and grabbed the knife and the knife went through his hand.

Pee Wee and his band went on to record for J.D. Miller's Feature label from 1952-1953. But Miller starting focusing on country and blues as Cajun music was fading away again.

In 1958, he recorded for the Stagg's label in Lafayette. There he recorded only one record for the label with one side being "Cankton Waltz". Pee Wee recalls:

"Everybody knew that I had a F accordion before I recorded "Cankton Waltz". I'm the first man that recorded it in F. It's pretty, but you've got to have the back group, because you can't use your bass on your accordion. Oh, we had a lot of fun playing."

It was the flipside that Pee Wee almost got sued for. The A side to the Stagg's record was "French Accordion Mambo". Pee recalls that another singer from Opelousas had recorded a "Mambo" song on Staggs as well. The singer threatened to sue Pee Wee over his recording; Pee Wee told him to go ahead if he thought he would get anything.

                                     

Session info

Acdn, remainder unknown

Possibly Lafayette LA: 1958

J8OW 4578 Cankton waltz (instrumental) Stagg’s 101

Resources:

Broven-South to Louisiana

Early Cajun Music Blog

Ann Savoy-Cajun Music Vol 2

photos of Pee Wee- Cajun Music Vol 2

Pee Wee Broussard- French Accordion Mambo

                           



Born in Henderson, Chester "Pee Wee" Broussard started a band early on in his youth. With his brothers James and Jules, they started the Youngsville Playboys. Later on they expanded the group and formed the     Southern Troubadors, often performing at Club 90 in Port Barre. That group later evolved into the Melody Boys.


 Pee Wee and His Melody Boys got their recording start when Ned Guilbeau, a local DJ, arranged a session at J.D. Millers studio. He recorded three sides for Feature records in Crowley between 1952 and 1953 and didn't have a record come out until 1958. It was then Pee Wee released a record put out by a local music shop in Lafayette.

Stagg's Music Shoppe was purchased on February 1, 1950 from Wilfred Boudreaux, who had been operating the Music Shoppe under the name of Boudreaux Music Shoppe and had been in the music business in Lafayette since 1920. His niece, Louisette Stagg, took over the business from him. The shop was a one stop for those looking for the newest records of the week.

And by the late 50's the rhumba and the mambo were the rage in the country. Country artist Hank Snow had Hank Snow's "The Rhumba Boogie" and "That Crazy Mambo Thing". Mambo madness peaked in the U.S. in the 1950s, and faded as Rock & Roll appeared.  In July of 1957, Nathan Abshire's "Boora Rhumba" hit the market, attempting to jump into the rhumba craze that swept through country music.

And in 1958, so did Pee Wee with "French Accordion Mambo". It was released on the Stagg's label and appears to be the only release from the label, assumingly acting as a promotion for the  record shop.

Accordionist Cameron Dupuy:
           
"I feel that "French Accordion Mambo" is light years ahead of it's time... This particular recording showcases Pee Wee and his edgy sound. It includes grooves and time signatures that weren’t included much in Cajun music prior to its release."


Pee Wee went on to record two sides for the Khoury's label before they folded. He started off the 1960's cutting two records for La Louisianne Records and he also acted as a sideman, playing fiddle in other groups through the years. He influenced many musicians with his style of playing and all the while he kept his day job as a mechanic at Charlie Lamar's Mechanic Shop in Lafayette. During this time he could also be heard on KLFY radio.

Louisette Stagg ran the Stagg's Music Shoppe in Lafayette and New Iberia for 25 years. Afterwards they retired and the business was sold to Gibert Ray Futch.





                                         

Resources:
Broven-South to Louisiana
Early Cajun Music Blog
with thanks to Cameron Dupuy



Session info

Acdn, remainder unknown
Possibly Lafayette LA: 1958
J8OW 4577 French accordion mambo (inst) Stagg’s 101
J8OW 4578 Cankton waltz (instrumental) Stagg’s 101