Canray Fontenot
Encyclopedia
Canray Fontenot was an American
Creole
fiddle player, who has been described as "the greatest black Louisiana French
fiddler of our time."
, Louisiana
(or l'Anse des Rougeaux, Louisiana, an unincorporated community outside Eunice, Louisiana
); however his family was from Duralde, Louisiana. Fontenot, who grew up working on a family farm, inherited his musical skills from his parents, who played accordion; his father Adam, known as "Nonc Adam", played with Amédé Ardoin
. Canray first played a cigar-box fiddle that had strings taken off the screen door of his home. His bow was made from the branches of pear trees and sewing thread.
; however, his parents would not allow him to travel. In the late 1930s, he formed a string band
with George Lenard and Paul Frank, playing boogie woogie, western swing
and jazz
as well as traditional tunes, but after a few years Fontenot established a more lasting partnership with accordionist Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin (a cousin of Amédé) from nearby Duralde. In 1948 the pair formed the Duralde Ramblers, who became highly popular in south west Louisiana and made many radio broadcasts through the 1950s, notably on KEUN
in Eunice
. He also began writing songs. His most well-known original songs are "Joe Pitre a Deux Femmes," "Les Barres de la prison" and "Bonsoir Moreau", which have become standards in the Cajun music
and Zydeco
music repertoires. Fontenot was never a professional musician; he was a rice farmer for many years, and also worked as a labourer in a feed store in the town of Welsh
.
Fontenot and Ardoin made their debut outside of Louisiana
in 1966, performing at the Newport Folk Festival
. At the time, Fontenot had not performed in public for several years, but was persuaded to do so by folklorist Ralph Rinzler
. Following the festival, the pair recorded an album with producer Dick Spottswood, Les Blues Du Bayou, and from then on started appearing in a steady stream of festivals in Louisiana and around the world, becoming the last Creole musicians playing music in the "old style".
He was awarded the NEA National Heritage Fellowship
in 1986, in the same year as he and Ardoin were appointed adjunct professors at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. In later years he was featured in many documentaries on Cajun
and Creole culture, including the 1989 film "J'ai Ete au Bal" as well as PBS's American Patchwork "Don't Drop the Potato". He also performed in New Orleans and toured Europe with the band Filé
. There is a portrait of Canray in Yasha Aginsky's 1983 film "Cajun Visits," and in Jean-Pierre Bruneau's 1993 film "Louisiana Blues," edited by Yasha Aginsky.
Canray Fontenot died in 1995 after a long bout with cancer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
fiddle player, who has been described as "the greatest black Louisiana French
Louisiana French
Louisiana French is the regional variety of the French language spoken throughout contemporary Louisiana in the south-eastern USA by individuals who today identify ethno-racially as Creole, French Creole, Spanish Creole, Mississippi Creole, Alabama Creole, Texas Creole, California Creole,...
fiddler of our time."
Early life
Canray Fontenot was born in L'anse Aux Vaches, near BasileBasile, Louisiana
Basile is a town in Acadia and Evangeline parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 1,660 at the 2000 census.The Acadia Parish portion of Basile is part of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
(or l'Anse des Rougeaux, Louisiana, an unincorporated community outside Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
); however his family was from Duralde, Louisiana. Fontenot, who grew up working on a family farm, inherited his musical skills from his parents, who played accordion; his father Adam, known as "Nonc Adam", played with Amédé Ardoin
Amédé Ardoin
Amédé Ardoin was an American Louisiana Creole musician, known for his high singing voice and virtuosity on the Creole/Cajun Accordion...
. Canray first played a cigar-box fiddle that had strings taken off the screen door of his home. His bow was made from the branches of pear trees and sewing thread.
- Canray stated "So, we took some cigar boxes," he said. "In those days, cigar boxes were made of wood. So, we worked at it and finally made ourselves a fiddle. For our strings, we had no real strings ... we took strands off the screen door. We made fiddles out of that stuff, and then we started practicing." Fontenot visited a neighbor "to see how he tuned his fiddle. He would sound a string, and then I would try mine, but I couldn't go as high as his fiddle; every time I tried to match his pitch, I'd break a string.... But then when he would break a string, I would take the longest end. Then my fiddle sounded pretty good. And that's how I learned. It's just a matter of having music on your mind."
Music career
By 1934, Fontenot had begun performing with Amédé Ardoin, who wanted him to play on a recording session with him in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; however, his parents would not allow him to travel. In the late 1930s, he formed a string band
String band
A string band is an old-time music or jazz ensemble made up mainly or solely of string instruments. String bands were popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and are among the forerunners of modern country music and bluegrass.-String bands in old-time music:...
with George Lenard and Paul Frank, playing boogie woogie, western swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
as well as traditional tunes, but after a few years Fontenot established a more lasting partnership with accordionist Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin (a cousin of Amédé) from nearby Duralde. In 1948 the pair formed the Duralde Ramblers, who became highly popular in south west Louisiana and made many radio broadcasts through the 1950s, notably on KEUN
KEUN (AM)
KEUN is a radio station licensed to Eunice, Louisiana, USA broadcasting a news/talk/information format. The station is currently owned by Tri-Parish Broadcasting Co....
in Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
. He also began writing songs. His most well-known original songs are "Joe Pitre a Deux Femmes," "Les Barres de la prison" and "Bonsoir Moreau", which have become standards in the Cajun music
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
and Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
music repertoires. Fontenot was never a professional musician; he was a rice farmer for many years, and also worked as a labourer in a feed store in the town of Welsh
Welsh, Louisiana
Welsh is a town in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,380 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Welsh is located at ....
.
Fontenot and Ardoin made their debut outside of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in 1966, performing at the Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival...
. At the time, Fontenot had not performed in public for several years, but was persuaded to do so by folklorist Ralph Rinzler
Ralph Rinzler
Ralph Rinzler was the co-founder of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall every summer in Washington, D.C., where he worked as a curator for American art, music, and folk culture at the Smithsonian....
. Following the festival, the pair recorded an album with producer Dick Spottswood, Les Blues Du Bayou, and from then on started appearing in a steady stream of festivals in Louisiana and around the world, becoming the last Creole musicians playing music in the "old style".
He was awarded the NEA National Heritage Fellowship
National Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
in 1986, in the same year as he and Ardoin were appointed adjunct professors at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. In later years he was featured in many documentaries on Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
and Creole culture, including the 1989 film "J'ai Ete au Bal" as well as PBS's American Patchwork "Don't Drop the Potato". He also performed in New Orleans and toured Europe with the band Filé
Filé (band)
Filé is a cajun music ensemble from Louisiana founded in 1983. The group is named after filé powder, a spice used in cajun food.The group was founded by Ward Lomand and Kevin Shearin, who had previously played together in the band Cush-Cush from 1980...
. There is a portrait of Canray in Yasha Aginsky's 1983 film "Cajun Visits," and in Jean-Pierre Bruneau's 1993 film "Louisiana Blues," edited by Yasha Aginsky.
Canray Fontenot died in 1995 after a long bout with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.