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.
One of LeJeune’s most beloved songs is Duraldo Waltz, which is probably the last recording he made before his death. Taped in his home, you can hear a musician’s foot keeping time on the wooden floor, and notably at about 50 seconds, LeJeune’s dog, Rain, barks as someone comes to the door.