ARTIST: Joe Falcon
TITLE: Cajun Music Pioneer
LABEL: Arhoolie CD 459
GENRE: Folk
SOURCE: CD
BITRATE: 189 kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 73:48
RELEASE DATE: 1997-00-00
RIP DATE: 2006-03-20
Track List
----------
1. Joe's Breakdown 5:10
2. 99 Year Waltz 4:50
3. Corrine, Corrina 5:04
4. Jole Blonde 5:28
5. Lacasine Special 5:14
6. Le Traces De Mon Buggy (The 5:06
Tracks Of My Buggy)
7. Osson Two-Step 5:33
8. La Valse De St. Landry (Keep A' 3:57
Knocking)
9. Hip Et Taiaut 4:43
10. Creole Stomp 4:54
11. Myer's Waltz 4:41
12. Allons A Lafayette 4:38
13. La Valse A Nonc Gustave 4:44
14. Allons Danser Colinda 4:56
15. Les Flambes D'Enfer (The Flames 4:50
Of Hell)
Release Notes:
* Tracks #1,2,3,4,6 Previously Unreleased
* Tracks #5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 Previously Available As Arhoolie Cassette
& LP (Recorded Live At The Triangle Club In Scott, LA, On June 29, 1963)
Bio: Accordionist Joe Falcon and his future wife, Cleoma Breaux, were the first
musicians to record Cajun music. Their song, "Lafayette," better known as,
"Allons a Lafayette," was recorded in New Orleans on April 27, 1928.
Joe was born September 28, 1900 near Bayou Plaquemine Brulee just north of
Rayne, Louisiana. He began playing accordion at the age of seven. His career as
a professional musician began some years later at a fais-do-do hall in Rayne
when the regular band didnÆt show up and the dance hall owner insisted that Joe
take their place.
As a young man, Joe was friends with accordionist AmΘdΘe Breaux of the legendary
Breaux family and sometimes accompanied him on triangle. AmΘdΘeÆs sister,
Cleoma, a gifted guitarist and singer, became JoeÆs frequent accompanist and
they married not long after the onset of their recording career.
"Lafayette" caused a sensation when it was released by Columbia Records in the
summer of 1928. Thousands of copies were sold and Falcon became the first
Cajun-recording star, playing to packed dance halls in Louisiana and neighboring
Texas. Joe and Cleoma recorded more material at sessions in New York in August
1928 and Atlanta in April 1929. After a hiatus caused by the onset of the Great
Depression, the couple resumed their recording career in 1934, recording again
in New York, then at New Orleans in 1936 and San Antonio in 1937.
Despite this success, JoeÆs career flagged in the late 1930s with the increasing
popularity of fiddle-based country-and-western influenced bands. His music came
to be considered old-fashioned and he stopped recording after his last session
in 1937. Cleoma died suddenly in 1941. Joe died in Crowley, Louisiana on
November 19, 1965.
"Allons a Lafayette" remains one of the most popular Cajun songs of all times.