Harry Choates
Encyclopedia
Harry Choates was an American Cajun music
fiddler.
Choates's place of birth is disputed. He moved to Port Arthur, Texas
in the 1930s, and received little schooling, instead spending time in local bars listening to music on the jukebox
. By age 12 he started playing fiddle for spare change in barber
shops. He gained early professional experience playing in the bands of Leo Soileau
and Leroy LeBlanc, then split off to form his own group called the Melody Boys in 1946. His 1946 song "Jole Blonde", a top 10 hit for Choates, was recorded by country
singer Moon Mullican
and became a major hit, but Choates had waived his rights to the song and was never compensated for the song's success.
Choates remained with the Melody Boys from 1946 to 1951, recording for Gold Star Records
in 1946-47. The Melody Boys disbanded over Choates's chronic problems with alcoholism
and his frequent missed concert dates, and shortly after the dissolution he played with Jesse James & His Gang on KTBC
radio. In the middle of the year, Choates was found to be in contempt of court
for failing to pay his support payments for his children. He spent three days in prison, at which time he began hitting his head against the bars of his jail cell, eventually knocking himself into a coma
. The condition persisted for several days before Choates died on July 17, 1951.
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...
fiddler.
Choates's place of birth is disputed. He moved to Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
in the 1930s, and received little schooling, instead spending time in local bars listening to music on the jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
. By age 12 he started playing fiddle for spare change in barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
shops. He gained early professional experience playing in the bands of Leo Soileau
Leo Soileau
Leo Soileau was one of the most prolific Cajun recording artists of the 1930s and 1940s. He recorded over 100 songs, which was a substantial amount considering the reluctance to record the music during its early stages...
and Leroy LeBlanc, then split off to form his own group called the Melody Boys in 1946. His 1946 song "Jole Blonde", a top 10 hit for Choates, was recorded by country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Moon Mullican
Moon Mullican
Aubrey Wilson Mullican , known as Moon Mullican, was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist. However, he also sang and played jazz, rock 'n' roll and the blues...
and became a major hit, but Choates had waived his rights to the song and was never compensated for the song's success.
Choates remained with the Melody Boys from 1946 to 1951, recording for Gold Star Records
Gold Star Records
Gold Star Recording Company and Gold Star Sound ServicesGold Star Recording Company originated as a recording studio in Houston, Texas, founded in October 1941 by Bill Quinn under the name Quinn Recording Company...
in 1946-47. The Melody Boys disbanded over Choates's chronic problems with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and his frequent missed concert dates, and shortly after the dissolution he played with Jesse James & His Gang on KTBC
KTBC
KTBC, channel 7, is the Fox owned-and-operated television station in Austin, Texas. Studios are located in downtown Austin at the corner of 10th and Brazos Streets , and its transmitter is located in the city....
radio. In the middle of the year, Choates was found to be in contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
for failing to pay his support payments for his children. He spent three days in prison, at which time he began hitting his head against the bars of his jail cell, eventually knocking himself into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. The condition persisted for several days before Choates died on July 17, 1951.
See also
- History of Cajun MusicHistory of Cajun musicCajun music has its roots based in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada and Country music.-Early years:The first form of traditional cajun music began before the 20th century in south Louisiana. When the Acadians came from New Brunswick & Nova Scotia to Louisiana in 1764, they...
- List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music