Menu

Dewey Balfa Interview, 1993

Dewey Balfa
Photo by Chris Strachwitz

Dewey Balfa was one of our best friends. We spent a lot of time with him both on the road and playing music and partying at our house. Dewey was very handsome and had a magical way of touching peoples’ hearts everywhere he went. He could read people like a book and knew how to reach them. He became an international folk legend, but Marc and I knew him just as the simple man he was on a daily basis. Marc had played music with Dewey’s brother Rodney and also with Will Balfa in the dancehall scene in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Dewey was working as an insurance salesman and school bus driver in those days. When I met him in the 1970’s he and his brothers played a weekly radio show at Mouche’s Lounge in Basile. Marc and I loved to go hear them in that element, Dewey announcing ads on the radio in French, and the brothers playing as a full band, steel guitar, fiddle, guitar, and drum. Nonc Allie Young was playing accordion with them.

-Ann Savoy

00:00
00:00
  • Dewey Balfa 1993 00:00
Interviewee: Dewey Balfa
Interviewer: Ann Savoy
Date: February 1993
Location: Dewey’s Furniture store
Language: English
00:00
00:00
  • Dewey Balfa 00:00
Interviewee: Dewey Balfa
Interviewer: Ann Savoy
Date: March 1993
Location: Dewey’s Furniture Store
Language: English

This is an interview originally recorded for research purposes. It is presented here in its raw state, unedited except to remove some irrelevant sections and blank spaces. All rights to the interview are reserved by the Arhoolie Foundation. Please do not use anything from this website without permission. info@arhoolie.org


Statement on the passing of Chris Strachwitz

Arhoolie Records Founder
July 1, 1931 – May 5, 2023

We celebrate the life of our founder, friend, and great record man Chris Strachwitz. He died peacefully at home in Marin County, CA, surrounded in his last days by dear friends and family. Over his 91 years, Chris captured the music that represents the best “down home music” the world has to offer.

He was at the forefront of nearly all the roots revivals over the last 60 years including blues, zydeco, Cajun, Norteño and Tejano music. His drive to document traditional music helped introduce the nation to our diverse musical heritage. He had the foresight to save music that might have otherwise been lost to obscurity and played a role in strengthening cultural traditions through his records, films, and most recently the Arhoolie Foundation. He cared for those around him, fought for royalties and recognition for Arhoolie artists, and provided counsel to countless musicians, writers, film makers, and academics.

Plans for a public celebration of his life will be announced in the coming weeks. Today we’re thinking of all that Chris brought to our lives and the lives of the musicians and fans with whom he shared his passion.