Go
to the Official Cajun Music Festival site for schedules and more information
or try
www.myspace.com/mamoucajunmusicfestival
Digital Pictures of the 31st annual
Mamou Cajun Music Festival
September 6-7, 2002
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Note: Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin died May 16,
2007.
The 31st annual Mamou Cajun Music Festival honored the truly
legendary Creole musician Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin, who lives in the community
of L'Anse de Prien Noir near Duralde, a few miles west of Mamou. His children, along with
a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren, attended. The highlight of the program
Bois Sec Ardoin's performance with Balfa Toujours starting about 11:15 a.m.
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In the photos above, Bois Sec Ardoin is shown performing with
Courtney Granger and Kevin Wimmer on fiddle and Christine Balfa on guitar. Balfa Toujours
and Bois Sec Ardoin recorded an album on Rounder Records, and the Ardoin and Balfa
families have been friends for several decades. Members of the
Ardoin family are shown at left dancing to music supplied by Lawrence "Black"
Ardoin on accordion and members of Balfa Toujours. |
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Lawrence "Black" Ardoin is shown at left
performing with Kevin Wimmer of Balfa Toujours.
Below, Dexter Ardoin, son of Morris Ardoin, is shown
performing with fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt, an Illinois native who has performed with the
Ardoins frequently, as well as with Sheryl Cormier, among others.
The bottom photos show Alphonse "Bois Sec"
Ardoin, surrounded by his children, on stage during the official presentation of the
festival poster. In her tribute, Christine Balfa described Bois Sec Ardoin's many
achievements and contributions to the music of Louisiana and also paid tribute to his
wife, the late Marceline Ardoin. Together, they raised 14 children. |
 
 
 Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin's children joined him on stage in Mamou
during the tribute at the festival. Shown kneeling, from left, are Dorothy Fruge and Emily
Ardoin; and standing, from left, Onelia Cochran, Juanita Ardoin, Mildred Rucker, Lawrence
"Black" Ardoin, Ronald Ardoin, Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin,"
Morris Ardoin, Florence Thomas, Mathilda Hall, and Alberta Hall. Also pictured are
Christine Balfa and festival organizer Patrick Reed. Identification of family members is
based on a photo taken by Jerry Hoffpauir in L'Anse de Prien Noir and published in The
Eunice News Sept. 15. The accompanying story noted that the family members spent the
weekend together and attended mass on Sunday. The Eunice News also published a photo of
Bois Sec Ardoin posed with his grandchildren, who at Saturday evening's gathering at his
home sang several songs to him. Grandchildren and other family members are shown above in
a photo taken during the festival (the photo is at left above the presentation photo). |
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