Down Home Cajun Music- Early Dewey Balfa Recordings 1951-1965
Down Home Cajun Music- Early Dewey Balfa Recordings 1951-1965Starting off Season Four with one from the heart. This episode of the podcast is dedicated to the early recordings of Dewey Balfa . We heard recently there was a discussion of the life of Dewey and his music in Lafayette and sadly much of his early recordings weren't mentioned. We here at Down Home Cajun Music would like to correct that.While he was known for the folk revival, Dewey Balfa also was a big part of the Cajun Honky Tonk sound of the dancehalls. Dewey made many recordings prior to his recordings with his brothers on Swallow. Dewey made his debut recordings in 1951 with Elise Deshotel on the Khoury's label. By 1955 he began recording with Nathan Abshire, a association that would last a lifetime. Dewey's vocals and fiddling were a big part of Nathan's band and Nathan would keep Dewey in the studio with him when he made the label transfer from Khoury's to recording for J.D. Miller. Later Dewey would record with the Sundown Playboys on the Goldband label. Elise Deshotel- LValse De Bon Baurche (Khoury's 618) *1951 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsElise Deshotel- Le Two Step De Ville Platte (Khoury's 618) * 1951 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- Casa Blanca Waltz (Khoury's 647) * 1955 recording with Dewey with on fiddle and vocalsElise Deshotel- La Valse De Tamper Tate (Khoury's 620) *1951 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsElise Deshotel- La Valse De Courage (Khoury's 619) *1951 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- Carolina Blues (Khoury's 649) *1955 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- L.S.U. French Waltz (Khoury's 701) *1957 with recording Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- Lonely Heart Waltz (Cajun Classics 101) *1959 with recording Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- Mardi Gras Song (Kajun 502) *1961 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- Lonely Heart Waltz (unissed Kajun recording) *1959 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsSundown Playboys- Sundown Waltz (Goldband 1073) *1957 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsSundown Playboys-River Two Step (Goldband 1073) *1957 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocalsNathan Abshire- Bayou Pon Pon (ARH 5004) *1965 recording with Dewey on fiddle and vocals*All selections from the original 78, 45 and Lp records.