Iry Lejeune

October 8, 1955 - The most popular Cajun musician of his time was Iry LeJeune.

On this night he had just played a gig at the Green Wing club in Eunice, Louisiana. He and his fiddler, J.B. Fuselier, got a flat tire as they drove home. As they tried to change the tire, a reckless driver plowed into LeJeune and killed him. He was only 26.

LeJeune is remembered for his wailing voice and his lively accordion playing. He's often credited for stirring up a renaissance in Cajun music after World War II.

The son of a sharecropper, LeJeune was almost totally blind at birth. He turned to music early on as a means of support. When he was 20 years old he recorded a 78 featuring Love Bridge Waltz and Evangeline Special. The record was a regional hit and LaJeune became a sought-after entertainer in the Louisiana dance halls.