In St. Landry Parish, we love accordions. We love listening to them, playing them, and the artistry that goes into making them. It ties together both Cajun and zydeco music in a way that harkens to the past while retaining a devoted following that has a clear place in the future.
The accordion is a part of a family of free reed instruments that includes the harmonica and reed organ. Their design was influenced by Asian reed mouth organs such as the sheng, which is known to have been around since 1100 BCE. However, the accordion as we recognize it today is traced to Austria in the early 1800s. The popularity of the accordion spread like wildfire across America almost immediately after its creation making its way to Acadiana via German-speaking settlers. It wouldn’t take long for Creole and Cajun musicians of Louisiana to master the craft.
Amédé Ardoin, who has a statue at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center, was a major influence on the iconic sounds of zydeco and Cajun music that we are familiar with today. As well as being some of the first recorded instances of Acadiana’s traditional music, Amédé’s recordings were special because of his partnership with Cajun fiddler, Dennis McGee. His accompaniment to Amédé’s masterful accordion playing in the 1920s and ‘30smade their interracial act one-of-a-kind.
Amédé’s music set the stage for other accordionists to enter the spotlight. “Boozoo” Chavis and Clifton Chenier brought accordion music worldwide in the 1950s through the ‘80s with the introduction of zydeco music. Another St. Landry Parish native, Chenier’s lively, toe-tapping accordion-playing would touch the lives of millions, solidifying the genre on the national stage. Over his lifetime, Chenier earned two Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement award in 2014, putting him alongside music giants like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, and even the Beatles.
Chenier isn’t the only Grammy-winning accordionist that hails from our parish. Rockin’ Sidney Simien earned his a year after Chenier’s first in 1984 for his multi-million seller, “My Toot Toot”. Alongside these greats is Terrance Simien who has so far earned two Grammys, one in 2008 and the other in 2013. Terrance is considered a crucial link that connects the original zydeco pioneers of his childhood with modern times.
With accordion players come accordion makers. Post WWII, Cajuns and Creoles played the accordion in their homes. Accordions were cherished by their owners. Sidney Brown of Lake Charles became one of the only people in Louisiana to repair and eventually build accordions in the 1950s after the major factories in Germany were destroyed in the war. His efforts would inspire the next generation of accordion builders, including a young Marc Savoy. The young Cajun accordion enthusiast opened the doors to the Savoy Music Center in Eunice in 1966. The center, along with housing his accordion-making business, is a hub for Saturday morning jam sessions.
Heritage Accordions in Lawtell is headed by Rusty Sanner who was trained by legendary maker Randy Falcon. “In many ways,” Falcon said in a post updating the world of his retirement, “he has exceeded my abilities and will also be making and repairing the dual-keyed accordion. He also tunes the old-fashioned way.” Falcon passed away nine months after the declaration.
Mary Hawkins is the communications manager for the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. Contact her at hawkins@cajuntravel.com.
