Iry LeJeune - Calcasieu Waltz Still video

Cajun Accordion player Iry LeJeune's Calcasieu waltz. Iry is considered one of the best Cajun musicians of all time. Almost blind from birth, all he had was family and music. Killed on October 8, 1955 while changing a flat tire.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Cajun
• Iry
• LeJeune
• accordion
• calcasieu
• waltz
• zydeco
• louisiana

[Kenonnoic]

I think Amede Ardoin was the architect, but Iry was the Master Builder :-)

[dr3noodle]

Eddie was one of Iry's 5 kids. I always thought the oldest, Ervin, was a better accordion player but Eddie was way more popular. I think it was because Eddie more or less aped his Dad's style in both playing and singing whereas Ervin was trying to be his own musician.

The youngest boy, Jim, has a voice just like his Dad. I jammed with him at Iry's old house in Lacassine in the early 80s. The dude could straight-up sound just like his old man...

[hussnfussel7]

Ervin is my next door neighbor. And he looked just like his daddy when he was a young man. Ervin and i have been neighbors since 1974. I love him like a brother.

[nauort23]

What was an almost blind person doing changing a tire?!?!

[spazhat]

I recently read Ron Yule's book, "Iry Lejuene: Wailin' The Blues Cajun Style". It fills out Iry Lejuene's personality well. It also has two great (photo booth) photographs of Iry with Nathan Abshire and with Doug Kershaw. I would love to get a fair-sized (around 8x10") copy of each. Can anybody help?

[rothwellss]

Must say only discovered this type of music later in life but its now played around the house regularly thanks for the post

[ChampagneCraig]

This is the best picture of Iry that I've seen. I'm glad that we have this photo. He looks alive enough to put down the accordion and shake my hand.

He is the best we Cajuns ever produced.

[bravebelt67]

he is not one of the best , he is the best!! oh que c est bon:)

[ricknilson1]

I love your videos. I was not much aware of guys like Iry, Amede or Nathan. Thank you for these. I am hooked.

[robrich32176]

@vernonmoreaux Eddie has two younger brothers and 1 older. Ervin is the oldest, then there is Eddie. Then there is my mom Elsie. Then Willie (Can't miss him, he has the long sideburns, even today) and then the baby is James.

[robrich32176]

@rjwinz son



[robrich32176]

This is my grandpa playing here. My name is Robert Richard and my mom is one of Iry's 5 kids. Her name was Elsie Mae Marie Lejeune Richard. He is the greatest, and I'm not just saying that because he is my grandpa. My grandma Wilma told me so many good stories about him, I wish he would have lived long enough for me to meet him, but God must've needed another accordion player more than we did. Love ya pawpaw