Amédé Ardoin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amédé Ardoin
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Amédé Ardoin around 1912, on the occasion of his Confirmation in the Catholic Church.
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 11, 1898 near Basile, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 1942 (aged 44) Pineville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Creole, zydeco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, accordionist |
| Instruments | Vocals, Cajun accordion |
| Labels | Columbia Records, Brunswick, Vocalion, Decca, Melotone, Bluebird, Arhoolie, Tompkins Square |
Amédé Ardoin (born March 11, 1898 – died November 3, 1942) was an American Creole musician. He was famous for his high singing voice. He was also a very skilled player of the Cajun accordion. Many music experts say he helped create both Creole and Cajun music. This happened in the early 1900s. He wrote many songs that are now considered classic Cajun and zydeco tunes.
Contents
Early Life and Music Career
Amédé Ardoin was born near Basile in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. His family had both enslaved and free ancestors. Like most people in the Cajun Country area, Ardoin only spoke Cajun French. He did not speak English.
Instead of working on a farm, he spent his time developing his musical talents. He often played at dances. Many times, his audience was Cajun. He played with fiddle players like Alphonse LaFleur and Douglas Bellard. Ardoin moved around a lot. At one point, he lived near Chataignier. There, he met Cajun fiddle player Dennis McGee. They became regular music partners. They played at local house parties. Sometimes, Ardoin's young cousin, Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin, would attend these parties.
Ardoin and McGee were among the first musicians to record the music of the Acadiana region of Louisiana. On December 9, 1929, they recorded six songs. These were for Columbia Records in New Orleans. They made more recordings together in New Orleans in 1930. They also recorded in San Antonio, Texas in August 1934. Ardoin also made solo recordings in New York City in December 1934. His recordings were released on different labels. These included Brunswick, Vocalion, Decca, Melotone, and Bluebird. In total, we know of thirty-four recordings where Ardoin played the accordion.
His music became very popular across southern Louisiana. In the late 1930s, he often played in Eunice, Louisiana. He played with fiddle player Sady Courville. However, they never recorded together. Ardoin's music mixed "European song styles and African rhythms." These rhythms included swing and syncopation. He was a very lively and creative accordion player. He could keep a crowd dancing even when playing by himself. He was also a soulful singer. His emotional style used long, high-pitched notes.
Later Life and Passing
Later in his life, Amédé Ardoin became very ill. He was admitted to a hospital in Pineville, Louisiana, in September 1942. He passed away at the hospital two months later. He was buried in the hospital's common grave.
Legacy
On March 11, 2018, a life-sized statue of Ardoin was revealed. It is at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center. The statue is based on the only known photo of Ardoin. This photo was taken when he received the Catholic sacrament of Confirmation. This statue project was led by Darrell Bourque. He is a former Poet Laureate of Louisiana, an author, and a professor. Bourque also wrote a book of poems called 'If You Abandon Me: An Amédé Ardoin Songbook'. The cover of this book features artwork by Pierre Bourque.
Discography
Compilations
- Amadé Ardoin – Louisiana Cajun Music Vol. 6 : Amadé Ardoin – The First Black Zydeco Recording Artist (1928–1938) (OT-124 Old Timey Records, 1983)
- Pioneers of Cajun Accordion 1926–1936 (LPOT128 Old Timey / Arhoolie, 1989)
- I'm Never Comin Back: Roots of Zydeco (ARH7007 Arhoolie, 1995)
- Amede Ardoin – Mama, I'll Be Long Gone: The Complete Recordings of Amede Ardoin 1929–1934 (TSQ2554 Tompkins Square Records, 2011)
See also
In Spanish: Amédé Ardoin para niños
- History of Cajun Music
- List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
