Breaux Brothers
Breaux Frères | |
|---|---|
 Ophey Breaux, Amede Breaux, Aldus "Popeye" Broussard | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Cajun |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, fiddle, accordion, guitar |
| Labels | Vocalion Records, Columbia Records, Okeh Records, Fais Do Do |
Breaux Frères or Breaux Brothers (Amédé on accordion, Ophé on guitar, and Cléopha on the fiddle),[1] were Cajun musicians. They were the earliest to record the song "Jolie Blonde", under the title of "Ma Blonde Est Partie".[2]
Amédé Breaux was born on September 1, 1900 north of Rayne, Louisiana near a community called Robert’s Cove. He died in 1975. His father, August Breaux, later moved to north of Egan, Louisiana where he farmed. Amédé started playing the accordion when he was 12 years old and was playing house parties at the age of 14.
The whole family started playing music at a young age. When his brothers, Ophey and Clifford, and his sister, Cleoma Breaux Falcon, were old enough they played music together. That was when he recorded "Vas y Carrément (Step It Fast)" and "Poor Hobo" in 1929 for Columbia Recors. After he recorded "Ma Blonde Est Partie" (the earliest version of "Jole Blon" ever recorded) on April 18, 1929, he formed the Breaux Brothers band, consisting of Amedée, Ophey and Clifford. According to Cleoma's daughter, while Amede Breaux is credited with writing the song, it was his sister Cleoma Breaux who actually wrote the lyrics while Amede sung the song on the recording.
In October 1934, the trio recorded in San Antonio, Texas for Vocalion releasing 16 songs. That same year, Alan Lomax recorded the brothers playing "Little Dog Blues".[3] In December 1937, they traveled with Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux and recorded in Dallas, Texas for Decca Records, usually working together or even recording solo. Much of this work would be versions of popular country or swing tunes and they would be listed in multiple combinations of their names, sometimes with or without all the members. During that session, Clifford would go on to record "Continuer De Sonner" which is an early version of the song "Keep A-Knockin' popularized in 1957 by Little Richard.
Amede would eventually form a band in 1949 called The Acadian Aces. He made approximately 20 other recordings from 1930 through 1951. Some of these recordings included, "Hathaway Two Step", "Crowley Two Step," "Chere Mom," and "Criminal Waltz." He and his band played on a tour all over Louisiana and East Texas.[4]
- Ma Blonde Est Partie Listen (MP3)
Discography
Their work can be heard on the following discs:
- Cajun Fais Do Do (CD 416, Arhoolie Records)[5]
- Cajun Champs (CD 327, Arhoolie Records)[6]
- Cajun Dance Party: Fais Do-Do (CK 46784 Columbia Legacy, 1994)
- Cajun: Louisiane 1928-1939 (Frémaux & Associés FA 019, 1994)[7]
- Cajun Vol. 1 - Abbeville Breakdown: 1929-1939 (CK 46220 Columbia Records, 1990)
- Cajun: Early Recordings (JSP7726 JSP, 2004)
- Cajun - Rare & Authentic (JSPCD77115 JSP, 2008)
See also
References
- ^ "A Brief History of Cajun, Creole, & Zydeco Music" web.lsue.edu
- ^ "Joe and Cléoma Falcon were first to record Cajun music" www.carencrohighschool.org
- ^ "John and Alan Lomax in Louisiana, 1934". Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- ^ "Amédée Breaux" www.last.fm
- ^ "Cajun Fais Do Do" www.arhoolie.com
- ^ "Cajun Champs" www.arhoolie.com
- ^ www.dirtynelson.com
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