Arhoolie Foundation Presents “Allons Danser” - Lawrence Ardoin and Canray Fontenot (6/3/88)

The Ardoin family is filled with a long line of Creole musicians. Amede Ardoin was the first Creole accordionist to make commercial phonograph records in the late 1920s. Amede’s cousin was Alphonse "Boi Sec ''Ardoin, a successful accordion player who joined with Canray Fontenot in starting a band that lasted 40 years. Canray Fontenot was a Creole fiddler who was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1986. “Bois Sec'' and Canray were two of the best-known exponents of authentic Creole music and toured the world. “Bois Sec'' retired from playing in 1975, but his son Lawrence continued the duo. Lawrence used to play drums in the Ardoin Family band and only switched to the accordion in 1975 after his older brother Gustav was killed in an accident. Chris Strachwitz wrote in the liner notes for Lawrence’s first record for Arhoolie, “in the spring of 1984, I was suddenly confronted by Lawrence Ardoin and the band, playing with incredible unity and spirit.” Lawrence continues to add to the family dynasty as the father of zydeco artists Chris and Sean Ardoin. Here Lawrence and Canray play a classic tune at a private event in Northern California in 1988.

#Arhoolie #DeepDive #AmedeArdoin #CanrayFontenot #ChrisStrachwitz