Dewey Balfa

Dewey Balfa was a Cajun fiddler, bus driver, hard-working man who deeply loved his family, and was one of the first champions of Cajun Music as an American art form. Dewey lived in Basile LA, which is near Kinder, Mamau, and other places no one knows, unless you live in Cajun Louisiana. Dewey was a national treasure and had fans throughout the United States and around the world.

He was like my father, in so many ways. He was kind, understanding, caring, a true friend to all, and welcoming in every sense of the word. He also was the standard for traditional Cajun fiddling. This recording was one of the worst technical issues in my collection. It was recorded at Cid’s Place, a local gathering place for dancing and music in the Parish.

Dewey and his brothers performed live there on Friday nights and the show was carried live on the radio. Dewey asked me to join his band on stage for a few tunes. One that I remember sounded like the folk song, Rye Whiskey, so I could play that and blend in with the Cajun rhythm and chord changes. I do love Cajun music. I have a story in the Fred’s Story section of this website about meeting Dewey and staying in his home, and later encounters, as well.