Mamou- Cajun Music Capital video

It was 1956 when I was an eight year old cajun waiting outside the Joy Movie Theater for my parents to "pick me up." That night was the first time I heard Cajun french music and was drawn to it like a magnet. I walked across the street, past Fred's Lounge, to the French Casino dance hall ( probably the "Jambalaya" at that time), and while standing at the front door I heard Cyprien and Adam Landreneau playing live Cajun music. I remember it was them because the local taxi driver told me so (can't remember his name, "Farouche" perhaps). From that moment on I was hooked on Cajun music . Fifteen years later Cyp and Adam would play a couple of tunes at my wedding. The pics in this clip are a representation of the local musicians I was exposed to, regularly, in Mamou from the '50's thru the '80's. These artist aren't all "from'' Mamou but played music in Mamou with regularity during those years. Thinking back...it was awesome. I remember, as a teenager in 1964, we were gathered at my friend's (BD Fontenot) home during a holiday season and BD decided we needed LIVE music. He left and went out and rounded up the Balfa Brothers to play music for our party. When the party ended, we "passed the hat" and gave them a little money in gratitude. But they hadn't played for the money; they played simply because they and we loved it. Several decades later, the Louisiana Legislature officially designated Mamou Louisiana as the CAJUN MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. The musicians in this clip are ...