ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION COLLECTIONS:Audio Interviews
Audio interviews by Chris Strachwitz during his research into the music he was recording for his label Arhoolie Records as well as for his radio programs on KPFA-FM (Berkeley, CA) in the 1960’s through 1980’s, and by Dr. Manuel Peña during his research for his several books on Mexican American music.
Ann Savoy Collection: Dewey Balfa, 1993
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.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Bois Sec & Marceline Ardoin, 1984
When I lived in Richmond, Virginia, one of my first and favorite Louisiana LPs was an album from the Arhoolie label by Bois Sec Ardoin, Canray Fontenot, and his son, Morris. I loved the simplicity of the accordion style, the soulful tone of the vocals, and the way they spoke the French language.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Freeman and Canray Fontenot and Bois Sec Ardoin
I had interviewed each of these men separately but gathering these three men together was primarily done so I could photograph them for the NTCA. After the photos were taken, they came inside for a visit and Marc asked them questions in French about their worlds.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Harry & Tony Balfa, 1984
I had known Tony for years and had travelled with Marc, Dewey and Rodney when Tony was playing with them on the road. Tony was a kind, gentle soul like his father Rodney. I interviewed Harry to learn more about Rodney since Rodney had died
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Ann Savoy Collection: Luderin Darbone, 1983
Luderin was the most delicate and practicing Christian of the people I interviewed. And could he play the swing fiddle! So humble…The Hackberry Ramblers were, in their heyday, the young, “with it” band in Louisiana.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Shirley Bergeron, 1983
Marc was a good friend of Shirley’s father, Alphée Bergeron, and his band The Veteran Playboys. He got me to listen to their CDs, especially Shirley singing Quelle Etoile! What a voice.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Bébé Carrière, 1983
I clearly remember going to Bébé’s little house in Lawtell to interview him. He was a handsome, light skin creole, tall and slim. He had a gentle, slow way of talking.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Rockin’ Dopsie, 1984
I loved the zydeco of the Lafayette area very much and was happy to interview left-handed Rockin’ Dopsie. He, his wife Alvina and his baby son Dwayne (now a zydeco megastar) were sitting on the sofa of Dopsie’s house.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Claude Faulk, 1983
I had met Clifton Chenier several times with my husband Marc, who was a good friend of Clifton. Marc used to go to listen to Clifton at various venues and Clifton would always ask him to come up on the stage and play his “little accordion” (in contrast to Clifton’s piano key accordion!).
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Ann Savoy Collection: Clifton Chenier, 1984
Clifton didn’t grant many interviews and I was worried I wouldn’t get to talk with him. His wife, Margaret, was fiercely protective of him and wouldn’t let me into the house when I went to interview him.
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