Canray Fontenot - The Basics:
Canray Fontenot was born October 6, 1918 (some sources say 1922) near Eunice, Louisiana, and died of cancer in 1995. Many consider him to be not only the greatest Black Creole fiddler of his generation, but one of the greatest fiddlers of all time.
Canray Fontenot's Creole Fiddling:
Canray Fontenot played a style of Creole music that predated zydeco and had a great deal in common with early Cajun music. The music is heavily rhythmic and quite bluesy, with Creole French lyrics.
Canray Fontenot's Early Career:
Canray Fontenot began playing fiddle at age 9, on a cigar-box fiddle that he made himself. Eventually, he obtained a cheap catalog fiddle, and as a young teenager, began playing at country dances with his father, a legendary accordion player named Adam Fontenot, or "Nonc 'Dam" ("Uncle Adam"). When Canray was 14, his father died, and he was forced to quit school and work full-time.
Canray Fontenot and Bois-Sec Ardoin:
In his mid-teens, Canray Fontenot met Creole accordion player Bois-Sec Ardoin, and thus began a musical relationship that would last until Canray's death. Bois-Sec's punchy, rhythmic accordion style melded perfectly with Canray's Caribbean-inflected fiddling and the two musicians essentially defined pre-Zydeco Creole music.
Canray Fontenot - National Heritage Fellowship:
Canray Fontenot was awarded an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 1986, honored for both his extraordinary musicianship, but also for his huge knowledge of archaic tunes and stylings.
Canray Fontenot Starter CDs:
Louisiana Hot Sauce - Creole Style
La Musique Creole (with Bois-Sec Ardoin)
Allons A Lafayette (with Beausoleil)
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys also recorded a lovely song about Canray Fontenot, called "Bon Reve" (Listen/Download).
