Blind Uncle Gaspard

Alcide "Blind Uncle" Gaspard was blind vocalist and guitarist from Louisiana, alternated between string-band music (in a band with his brothers) and traditional Cajun balladry on his recordings for Vocalion. Born in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, in 1880, Gaspard formed his first band with his brothers Victor and Amade. When he began recording in the late 1920s though, it was as a backing guitarist for fiddler Delma Lachney. He also recorded on his own at the same sessions. Little else is known about Gaspard, though four of his sides (and a few of his appearances with Lachney) appear on the Yazoo compilation Early American Cajun Music released in 1999. Gaspard died in 1937.