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Dewey Balfa & Friends
Biography
A seminal figure in the revival of traditional Cajun music, fiddler Dewey Balfa was among his native culture's most impassioned ambassadors, helping introduce the Cajun sound to countless new fans across the globe and inspiring an entire generation of performers to explore their roots. Born March 20, 1927 in Mamou, Louisiana, Balfa was one of nine children in a family of sharecroppers; when not picking cotton, he learned to play the fiddle from his father, taking early inspiration from the music of Leo Soileau, Harry Choates and Bob Wills. During World War II, he worked in a Texas shipyard, later enlisting in the merchant marine; in his off hours, he continued playing music, sitting in with a variety of western swing bands. By the late 1940s, Balfa returned home to Louisiana, where he teamed with his siblings Rodney, Will and Harry to play local parties and dances as the Musical Brothers; by 1951, they even amassed enough of a local following to cut a 78 rpm single, "La Valse de Bon Baurche."

Acclaimed for his fluid, precise style, Balfa emerged as so much a fiddle virtuoso that he was much sought after by other Cajun performers, most notably accompanying Nathan Abshire on a variety of recording sessions and live dates.
Selected Discography