Sidney Brown-Pestauche Ah Tante Nana

Born in Church Point in 1906, Sidney Brown was raised in Point Noir until the family moved to the Richie Community. His uncle had a accordion and Sidney learned to play on it. He steal the accordion and sit in the cotton rows and play. He was self taught on the instrument and by the age of 13, he was playing house dances in the area.

As a young man he worked as a roughneck in the oilfields, eventually moving from the Ville Platte to Lake Charles. He found a job a job in woodworking where he could use his skills. At this point Sidney had already begun developing his skills toward making and repairing accordions while he held down his job at the Lake Charles Sash and Door Company.

After World War II Sidney formed the Traveler Playboys. By 1948, Sidney Brown and the Traveler Playboys were playing on KPLC on a weekly thirty minute program. In addition to shows with his band; from 1952 to 1959, Sidney performed with the Musical 4+1 and the Hillbilly Ramblers.

Around 1955, Sidney and the Travelers began recording for Eddie Shuler's Goldband label. At this point, Eddie had been inspired by the response to Iry LeJeune's records selling so well to record more Cajun music. After the first record, the band's record sales increased and so did offers of personal appearances.

In 1958, Sidney and his band recorded "Pestauche Ah Tante Nana", also known as the Peanut Song. The song went on to become the third best selling record in the history of Cajun music. Originally titled "La Pistache a Trois Nana" or even "La Pistache a Quatre Nanan", it seems to stem from a older tune. It seems the change of wording was no accident; it was a example of Sidney's sense of humor.

S’en aller chez Nonc’ 'Tave,
Ça plante la belle récolte,
Du coton et du maïs,
Et la pistache à Tante Nana.

C’est ça qu’est si bon,
Grillé à dans l’bas du "stove",
Le temps mouillasseux,
La pistache à Tante Nana.

Ils est belle et si mignonne,
Tu dis on l'aime autant, 
Ses ça j'ai t'en aller, 
Et la pistache à Tante Nana.

S’en aller chez Nonc’ Charles,
Ça plante la belle récolte
Du coton et du maïs,
Et la pistache à Tante Nana.

While the song itself is subject to different interpretation; it didn't affect the song's popularity. The song was released in 1958 and Sidney and his band would go on to record many more sides for Goldband until 1960. Besides the many clubs they played, they also appeared on KPLC radio.

Another interesting bit about the record is that Shuler released two versions of the song. There are two released versions of Goldband 1061. The first featured "Noir Chaussettes Two Step" with "Pestauche Ah Tante Nana" was released in 1958. 

Shuler released the same numbered record again in the late 1960's! The later version featured "Chico Two Step" and a overdubbed version of "Pestauche Ah Tante Nana". The overdubbed version featured  Hugh Johnson on fiddle, Mervin Faul on steel guitar, Darrell Higginbotham on guitar and Albert Miller on drums.

Around 1960, Sidney lost his eye sight in one eye due to diabetes and in 1963 he was forced to abandon performing due to a heart condition. He spent the remainder of his years building and repairing accordions, producing many which are still in use today.





Resources
Early Cajun Music Blog
Ron Yule-Cajun Dancehall Heyday

Release info

HIS FRENCH ACCORDION & TRAVELLER PLAYBOYS (1061)
Acdn, Vinus Lejeune (v/fdl),Wallace Ogea (g),Tilford McClelland (st-g), Bill Matte
(d)
Goldband Studio, Lake Charles LA; 1958
-A or -1 Noir chaussette’s two step
-B or -2 Pestauche ah Tante Nana-2 Goldband 1061,

Sidney Brown- "La Misere De Mon Beau-Pere"

Sidney Brown was born October 28, 1906 in Church Point. Growing up, he  was self taught on the accordion. He would borrow a accordion and sit in the field and play. By the time he was 13, he was already playing house dances and fais do-dos. 

After years of working in the oilfield as a roughneck, he moved to Lake Charles from Ville Platte in 1940. There he found work as a woodworker and carpenter. It was here that Sidney began developing his skills towards making and repairing accordions. He would eventually be recognized as the first person to build Cajun accordions after WWII in Louisiana.

After World War II he formed the Traveler Playboys. In 1948 they played on KPLC on a weekly 30 minute broadcast. From 1952 to 1959, Sidney performed with the Musical 4 + 1 and the Hillbilly Ramblers, as well as his own bookings. 

In 1955, Sidney and his band began recording for Eddie Shuler. Eddie had been inspired by the success of Iry Lejeune's records and became more involved in recording Cajun music. Sidney's record "Pestauche A Tante Nana" would become the third best selling record in the history of Cajun Music. Sidney and his band played many clubs in Louisiana and Texas. They also appeared on KPLC radio with the Israel Lafleur Show and on KPAC television in Port Arthur.

"La Misere de Mon Beau-Pere" ( My Father-In-Law's Sorrow) was recorded in 1958 at Goldband studio in Lake Charles. Playing with Sidney on the recording was Nelson Young on fiddle, Cliff Newman on vocals, John Crochet on drums and either Tilford McClelland or Mervin Faul on steel guitar.

Toi, petite fille, 
qu'est assis la galerie, 
le chapelet dans la main, 
après prier pour tout qui vient 
jolie fille, 
pourquoi donc t'es comme ça, 
tu connais pour toi même quand ça fait du mal.
toi, malheureuse, 
pas la faute à ton beau père, 
pas la faute à la petite mère.

toi, petite fille, 
rappelles toi pour toi même les misères tu m'as fait ....


In the early 1960's Atlas Fruge joined the Traveler Playboys on steel guitar. By this time Sidney's health began to fail and he slowed down, eventually quitting any dancehall performances. He continued to perform on a limited basis, even winning the Cajun Days accordion contest in 1968. He continued building and repairing accordions, producing a unknown amount, many which are still in use today.


Sidney's impact on the local accordion scene is noted by Mervin Faul. Mervin played steel guitar with the Veteran Playboys for a while in the 1950's when Shirley Bergeron quit because his father's accordion was so bad out of tune and Shirley couldn't stand the sound. The other band members talked Mervin into talking to Alphe about it. Alphe let Mervin take his accordion to Sidney to repair. After his accordion was fixed the band continued playing. But Shirley would peek in and listen in to the group. It wasn't long before Shirley was back in the band thanks to Sidney's repair's to his fathers accordion.


In the early 1960's Atlas Fruge joined the Traveler Playboys on steel guitar. But by this time Sidney's health began to fail and he slowed down, eventually quitting any dancehall performances. He continued to perform on a limited basis winning the Cajun Days accordion contest in 1968. He continued building and repairing accordions, producing a unknown amount, many which are still in use today. One of Sidney's accordions sits in the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville, Louisiana. He passed away on August 6, 1981.

Resources-
Early Cajun Music Blog
Accadian All Star Special
Ron Yule-Cajun Dancehall Heyday
lyrics by Stephane F.