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: Preston Frank, 2019
Marc and Preston have been friends for years. In fact Preston was the second person in our area to buy a Bb accordion from Marc.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Oran “Doc” Guidry, 1986
When I first moved to Louisiana in 1977 I travelled extensively with Marc, D.L. Menard and Doc Guidry, The Louisiana Aces. I often brought my baby daughter Sarah with us. This was before I was playing music with Marc in public. Doc was a superb Cajun fiddler, defining the best of the 1960’s dancehall fiddle sound when he recorded with Aldus Roger and the Lafayette Playboys.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Octa Clark, 1989
Octa came to the Savoy Music Center jam session consistently for years. He was a gentle character with a twinkle in his eye. His accordion style was so strong and clean and old style-the way I like it.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Nathan Williams 2019
I met Nathan at his neat, huge house in Lafayette where he also keeps his recording studio. Nathan was walking in in his working clothes carrying a sack of okra and asked me to please wait while he got ready for the interview.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Murphy “Chuck” Guillory, 1989
Chuck was a regular a Marc’s Savoy Music Center Saturday morning jam session. He was from Mamou and had composed or made famous some of the Cajun hits like Tolan Waltz, Grand Mamou, and The Last Waltz.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Moise Robin
I visited Moise at his house in Leonville where he lived with his lovely wife Mary. Robin had had a recent comeback playing music when he was approached by Farren Serrette to make a recording.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Leroy “Happy Fats” Leblanc, 1986
I interviewed Happy Fats at my house in Eunice. He and his old friend Doc Guidry came over for coffee and talked about the old days.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Leroy Broussard, 1989
A big man with a BIG voice, I wanted Leroy to be a part of my book because of his great high vocals on the B.O. Sparkle Waltz and because of his two hit songs that I loved and learned, Lemonade Song and Brasse Le Couche Couche.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Julius “Papa Cairo” Lamperez, 1989
Papa Cairo was a big, brazen man and a big talker. He came to my house for the interview because I had my children at home and it was easier for him to come over. He didn’t have too much good to say about musicians in general, which he called “low lifes”. He had an amazing photo scrapbook which he allowed me to copy.
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Ann Savoy Collection: Edius Naquin, 1985
I had become fascinated with the ballads recorded by Mr. Naquin and wanted to meet him. He lived on a tiny farm in the town of Reddell, Louisiana, near Mamou. I had heard many of his recorded ballads on field recordings made by friends and colleagues.
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