Canray Fontenot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Canray Fontenot
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Fontenot in 1986
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 16, 1922 L'Anse aux Vaches, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 1995 (aged 72) Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Creole Cajun |
| Instruments | Fiddle |
Canray Fontenot (born October 16, 1922 – died July 29, 1995) was an amazing American Creole fiddle player. He was known for his unique style of music. Many people called him "the greatest Creole fiddle player of his time."
Contents
Early Life and Music
Canray Fontenot was born in a place called L'Anse aux Vaches, near Basile, Louisiana. His family came from nearby Duralde. Canray grew up working on his family's farm. He learned about music from his parents, who played the accordion. His father, Adam, even played with another famous musician named Amédé Ardoin.
Canray's first fiddle was made from a cigar box! He used strings taken from his home's screen door. His bow, which is used to play the fiddle, was made from pear tree branches and sewing thread.
Canray once said that cigar boxes were made of wood back then. He and his friends worked hard to make their own fiddles. Since they didn't have real strings, they used strands from the screen door. He learned to tune his fiddle by listening to a neighbor. He would try to match the sound, even if it meant breaking a string sometimes. He said he just had "music on his mind."
Music Career Highlights
By 1934, Canray Fontenot started playing with Amédé Ardoin. Amédé wanted Canray to record music with him in New York. But Canray's parents would not let him travel at that time.
In the late 1930s, Canray formed a string band with George Lenard and Paul Frank. They played different styles of music like boogie woogie, western swing, and jazz. After a few years, Canray started a long-lasting partnership with accordion player Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin. Bois Sec was a cousin of Amédé.
In 1948, Canray and Bois Sec formed a band called the Duralde Ramblers. They became very popular in southwest Louisiana. They also made many radio broadcasts in the 1950s. Canray also began writing his own songs. Some of his most famous songs are "Joe Pitre a Deux Femmes" and "Les Barres de la Prison." These songs are now well-known in Cajun and Zydeco music.
Canray Fontenot was not a full-time musician. For many years, he worked as a rice farmer. He also worked in a feed store in the town of Welsh.
Performing Around the World
Canray Fontenot and Bois Sec Ardoin first performed outside of Louisiana in 1966. They played at the Newport Folk Festival. Canray had not performed in public for several years before this. But a folklorist named Ralph Rinzler convinced him to play.
After the festival, they recorded an album called Les Blues Du Bayou. From then on, they started playing at many festivals in Louisiana and all over the world. They became known as the last Creole musicians playing music in the "old style."
In 1986, both Fontenot and Ardoin received National Heritage Fellowships. This is the highest honor for folk and traditional arts in the United States. Also in 1986, they became teachers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
In his later years, Canray was in many documentaries about Cajun and Creole culture. These included the film J'ai Ete au Bal and PBS's Don't Drop the Potato. He also performed in New Orleans and toured Europe with the band Filé.
Canray Fontenot passed away in 1995 at his home in Welsh, Louisiana.
Music Legacy
Canray Fontenot's music has left a lasting impact. The New Orleans culture magazine OffBeat Magazine has compared him to modern artists. Experts say that today's zydeco music uses less fiddle than in the past. Many of the great Creole fiddlers, like Canray, have passed away. Some say that when Canray died, it felt like a "lost art."
Recordings
You can find Canray Fontenot's music on several albums:
- Arhoolie Records, CD 381, Canray Fontenot: Louisiana Hot Sauce, Creole Style, 1993
- Arhoolie Records, Les Blues de Bayou, 1970
- Arhoolie Records, La Musique Creole, 1983
You can also listen to some of his songs online:
- "Les Blues du Voyageur" by Canray Fontenot & Alphonse 'Bois-Sec' Ardoin Listen (MP3)
- "Jolie Bassette" by Canray Fontenot & Alphonse 'Bois-Sec' Ardoin Listen (MP3)
See also
- History of Cajun Music
- List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
