Location: Louisiana

The Harry Oster Collection

Between 1956 and 1963, Dr. Harry Oster, professor of English at LSU Baton Rouge, roamed the back roads of Louisiana in search of traditional music. A...

Everything But the Squeak

Everything But The Squeak Directed by Alan Govenar This DVD is now out of print but you can watch the entire video below. Caution: Contains graphic...

SPECIAL PROJECTS BY THE ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION

SPECIAL PROJECTS BY THE ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION

John Delafose Interview – Zydeco

John Delafose and his band, the Eunice Playboys, represent both a return to old time zydeco as well as a unique modern sound. He plays the old time button accordion in a staccato style that emphasizes syncopated rhythm over melody; at the same time he plays the more melodic modern soul/blues sound often on the piano accordion.

Blues / Jazz / Gospel

Blues, Jazz & Gospel Whether collecting 78s and releasing them on the Blues Classics label or recording Lightning Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Reverend Overstreet, Billie and...

Canray Fontenot Interview

Canray Fontenot was a legendary Creole french fiddle player. “…We played for white people…I still think about that…You go play dances, you could get in the front, or anywhere. The next day you wanted to buy a drink, you had to go in the back, if you was Black.”

Wallace “Cheese” Read Interview – Cajun

You probably won’t see Cheese Read at the local dance halls around Eunice because he is not a professional musician. He prefers to play music at home or at parties with a few friends. But a more powerful singer or a more precise, knowledgeable fiddle player couldn’t be found in Southwest Louisiana.

Chuck Guillory Interview – Cajun

“Since I was four, five years old I liked music. I’d rather play music than eat.”….“George Jones, I’m the one who put him where he’s at…That man was poor. He begged me to play. I didn’t need him, I had a 7 piece band. I hired him anyway…five dollars a night…After the dance he would just sleep on the table ‘til daybreak and get a ride back to Beaumont.” – Chuck Guillory

Harry Choates Interview – Cajun

Harry Choates was a complete musician and entertainer. All of his life he ate, drank, and slept music. It is sometimes difficult to unravel the facts and myths surrounding the life and times of the man who immortalized Jole Blon, a song many Cajuns claim as their national anthem.