Al Wilson

HEADLINE: Local Music Society pushes Cajun Music

Sitting in a loosely closed circle, the entertainment on Wednesday nights at Gina’s at the Legion
seems like a thrown together group enjoying a night. The members relax in a collection of
folding chairs and different stools, one even sitting on a milk box carrier. The instruments
match the environment and seemingly random, especially to modern music, a collection of
strings and percussions. The group sings in Cajun French, the language most of them have been
born listening to. The music fits the ambiance perfectly, the slightly dimmed lights of the
restaurant making the group look like that of a campfire, singing and enjoying the night.

The group has the attention of all in the restaurant, at least those old enough to appreciate the
performance. Kids run through the circle, playing tag with each other and screaming as
someone has been made “it”. The adults, especially the older of the crowd sway to the music.
Several older couple slow dance around the circle, moving to the rhythm which they have heard
for years. Others grab what they can, tapping silverware against plastic cups to the beat of the
songs, even still others tap beer bottles together.

This is the Cajun Music Preservation Society at its finest. The award-winning group performs
every other Wednesday of the month at Gina’s, and while this is one of the groups main draws,
it is only a small part of what the organization accomplishes.

The organization started as an offshoot of the Nicholls event Swamp Stomp, an event dedicated
to Cajun Music. The main goals of the organization are to preserve traditional Cajun Music and
to give an avenue to Cajun artists.

The organization is led by Dr. Quenton Fontenot, a biology professor with a deep love for Cajun
music. As a child, he recalls how the Cajun music that he and his father would listen to on trips
to a hunting camp. “Sitting in the car for all those trips, which were some of the most fun times
of my childhood, I associated Cajun music with happiness.”

The society also allowed for Dr. Fontenot to develop a passion the accordion, a complicated
German instrument which is critical to Cajun music. When the group first began, Dr. Fontenot
was unable to play the instrument, but through time he began to play and now is an
accomplished player.

Along with the accordion, the instruments used in Cajun music are a testament to the legacy of
Cajun music. There are no amplifiers or modern-day electronics used in Cajun music, the music
is based on simple instruments that could be easily accessible to any members of the area, both
now and in the past. The original instruments of the genre are the banjo, fiddle, accordion, and
triangle. As these instruments are all cheaper, it allows for anyone who would like to learn
Cajun music the chance to join, thus spreading the culture the organization is working to
preserve.

Dr. Fontenot notes that while the group always has a consistent amount of attendees, the
musicians have had almost a 100 percent turnover rate. Musicians come and learn traditional
Cajun music and then leave the organization to play music elsewhere or grow more in culture.

The organization stresses its goal is to preserve the culture of true Cajun music, and while the
jams serve this purpose, the organization also works to push Cajun music whenever possible.
The organization raises money to book Cajun artists and bands for events and festivals,
spending more than $45,000 since its creation. This money is used to pay musicians for
performing, which gives festivals more of an incentive to include the artists in their events.

Misty McElroy, another of the organization's founders, cites the music’s style as to a reason for
their success. The social media director of the group, McElroy enjoys the music for the same
reason as Dr. Fontenot; it is the music of her childhood.

Many upcoming bands in the area focus on “Swamp Pop”, which is taking a popular song and
adding Cajun elements to it to create a cover of the song. Unlike this, the group only performs
traditional Cajun music.

“This is true Cajun music, not Swamp Pop or Zydeco, but traditional French music, so it reaches
out to all generations both young and old.”

McElroy and Fontenot agree that society’s most fulfilling moments occur on those Wednesday
nights. The music reaches out to the entire audience, and though many do not speak French or
understand the words to the songs, it is irrelevant. It is the feeling the music gives the listeners,
the home and campfire quality to the music that makes it shine.

Fontenot said, “Seeing older couples dance to your music, or clap or sing along while these
young children are having fun during the show is what makes the organization so worthwhile.
These kids will grow up in the music, and will hopefully carry it on to the next generation, so we
never lose it.”