Lionel Cormier and the Sundown Playboys- "Sundown Waltz".

   

 

Inspired by the response to Iry Lejeune's records after his death, the 1950's found Eddie Shuler becoming more involved in recording Cajun Music. During these years he recorded Sidney Brown, J.B. Fuselier and Aldus Roger. Another great group he recorded was the Sundown Playboys.

The Sundown Playboys first started recording in 1951. Though they have gone though different members; The Sundown Playboys are the musical journey of the Lionel Cormier family.

Lionel Cormier learned the accordion from his father at a early age. By the time he 12, he was playing the accordion at house dances across Acadia Parish. In 1935 he settled in Elton playing a few house dances following World War II. He would begin playing with Percy Fuselier in 1947 and form the Sundown Playboys.

The group started out with Lionel on the accordion, Wallace "Red" Toucet on fiddle, Howard Mier on guitar, and Lesa on drums. Lesa was replaced on drums by Clifton "Tan" Benoit on drums when he served in the miltary from 1951-1953.

The group first recorded in 1951 on J.D. Miller's Feature label. Lionel was successful in landing radio airplay including places like KPLC in Lake Charles, KSUL in Sulphur and KJEF in Jennings. Their second recording was in 1956 at Eddie's Goldband studio. By 1955 Eddie Shuler was no longer depending on local radio stations to record his artists at. Eddie recalls:

"I built the studio in 1955, my father in law designed it. He was a carpenter, so him and his brother built the studio according to my specifications."

For their second recording the lineup for the Sundown Playboys had changed. Lesa Cormier ws back on drums after his military service. And fiddler Wallace Touchet was replaced with the great Dewey Balfa. Dewey recorded with the Sundown Playboys for their first two sessions for Goldband, but by the third session in 1959, Wallace Touchet was back on fiddle.

The mid 1950's found Dewey to be a in demand session player. It was then he started recording with Nathan Abshire, a recording career that lasted until Nathan's passing. He also recorded with Elise Deshotel during this time on the Khoury's label.

 Lionel and the Sundown Playboys recorded for Shuler's Goldband label from 1956-1959. "Sundown Waltz" was off the group's second recording session for the label in 1957. Lionel let Dewey handle the vocals on the track.

After their recordings for Goldband the group would return to recording for J.D. Miller on his Cajun Classics in 1960. But gone was Howard Mier and replaced with Lawrence "Blackie" Fruge. As for Lionel he would make one more record with the group in 1969 on the same label.

Lake Charles had started Cajun Days in 1967 and by 1971, it was hosted at the Bamboo Club on Highway 14 with Lionel and the Sundown Playboys as headliners. After finishing the song "Church Point Two-Step", Cormier died of a heart attack unexpectedly, while taking a break as KJEF radio announcer Jerry Dugas was making announcements between songs. 

The following Saturday night the band had a booking, so 15 year old Pat Savant joined to help. With Pat joining the group, the band headed in a new direction.

                                          

Session info:

LIONEL CORMIER AND THE SUNDOWN BOYS (1054, 1073)

Lionel Cormier (acdn), Dewey Balfa (v/fdl), Howard Mire (g), Larry Miller (st-g), 

Lesa Cormier (d)

Goldband Studio, Lake Charles, La; 1957

-A River two step Goldband 1073, Goldband(E) GCL110 

-B Sundown waltz Goldband 1073

Resources

John Broven- South to Louisiana

Wade Falcon- Early Cajun Music blog

http://wired-for-sound.blogspot.com/2011_11_24_archive.html

Ron Yule- Cajun Dancehall Heyday

Iry Le June Jr- "Love Bridge Waltz"

A artist that recorded for Goldband Records was listed as "Iry Le June Jr.". To some this name draws puzzled looks and questions. Who was Iry Le June Jr.? This artist recorded 2 records for Goldband and Jador. But the idenity of the artist is none other than Ervin J. Lejeune, Iry's oldest child, who was not named for his famous father.


Ervin began playing at house dances around the age of nine or ten. He played his father's accordion around the house but his mother Wilma, keep it guarded. In 1963, Ervin played at a tribute to Iry at the Sparkle Paradise in Bridge City. By 1966, Ervin moved to Sulphur for work and began playing with musicians in the area. He was underage at the time and club owners would let him sneak in and play.


Ervin had been playing with Jake and Robert Bertrand at clubs in the late 1960's. After some time, Ervin joined the Louisiana Ramblers. Robert wanted to record and talked Ervin into recording, even though he was leery of Eddie Shuler and his buisness practices. This uneasiness came from Iry's unfavorable dealings with Eddie and Goldband. Ervin wanted to step out on his own playing music as a solo act.

In the early 1970's, Ervin set up a recording session at Goldband like his father before him, with the recordings being produced by Eddie Shuler. "Lawtell Two Step" and "Love Bridge Waltz" was recorded with Robert Betrand on fiddle. When Ervin went to the studio to pick up some records to sell, he discovered Eddie had used the Iry Le June Jr tag and a argument ensued. Eddie had used this as a tactic to sell more records and Ervin, who was trying to establish his own musical identity wasn't happy. This conflict between Ervin and Eddie over mislabeling would happen once more before Ervin had had enough.


Joining Ervin on the session was Robert Bertrand on fiddle, Ronnie Anderson on drums, and T-June Benoit on guitar.


Reflecting on the session and dealing with Shuler, Ervin stated:

"Iry had already been down that path before and I decided not to go there."

Ervin continued playing at festivals throughout Louisiana and Texas. He recorded with the Calcasieu Cajuns, Louisiana Ramblers, and the Sundown Playboys. Along the way he also took up accordion building. He passed away on January 26, 2018.

Resources
Ron Yule-Iry Lejeune- Wailin'The Blues Cajun Style