Louis Michel Irigaray - Jeiki, Jeiki (With Irrintzi)

The Basque and the American West, now there's a story. In 1972 Dan Peters, the Director of The Western Idaho State Fair called me and ask for my help in putting together a "Basque Night" during the coming fair. I contacted the Basque Center in Boise and they agreed to participate and asked me to put it together. Long story short Louis Michel Irigaray, The Basque Balladeer became our headliner. Here is cut one from his album "A Shepherd Sings". The album was recorded near that time at the Buck Owens studio in Bakersfield, CA for SH Records. SH Records was Scherry Harrah, the ex of Bill Harrah, the casino mogul. Louis's family is a prominent sheep ranching family in the High Sierra country. Louis had been an actual sheep rancher.

On the album credits Louis writes: "My special thanks to John Branstetter, my faithful guitar man & arranger."

Other muscian credits appear to be the 1970's version of the Buck Owens Buckaroos: Don Rich, Guitar; Doyle Singer, Bass; Jim Wiggens, Drums & Jim Shaw, Piano & Organ.

Incidently, an irrintzi is a high pitched sound of joy or celeration in the Basque culture. The Irrintzi was not in the original recording. I dubbed it in.

As an interesting footnote Dan Peters played the newsman in Clint Eastwood's movie Bronco Billy. At the time Dan was the Sports Director at KTVB-TV in Boise.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Basque Folk
• Louis Michel Irigaray
• The Hammer Works