J. B. Fuselier
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Jean Batiste "J.B." Fuselier Savoy 1984, p. 142. (April 17, 1901 – August 16, 1976)The Eunice News, Eunice, Louisiana, 19 Aug 1976, Thu • Page 5 was a
Cajun music Cajun music (), an emblematic music of Louisiana played by the Cajuns, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Although they are two separate genres, Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based ...
ian most remembered for his tune "Ma Chere Bassette". Broven 1983, p. 54. He played for many years with the group J. B. and His Merrymakers.


Early life

Fuselier began playing the fiddle when he was five. In a 1937 interview, he claimed that when he started violin, he was too small to pick it up to play. Yule 2009, p. 124. He had to lie on the bed. He also started playing the accordion at a very young age. At the age of nine, he played his first dance.


String band era

In the 1930s, he recorded many records with
Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer, incorporated in 1901. Victor was an independent enterprise until 1929 when it was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and became ...
under the
banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...
ist Beethoven Miller's Merrymakers. After Miller left the group in early 1938,#Brasseaux09, Brasseaux 2009, p.153. Fuselier changed the name to J.B. and His Merrymakers. The group was very successful, drawing large crowds at the Step Inn Club in Lawtell, Louisiana, Lawtell and Fais Do Do in Ville Platte, Louisiana, Ville Platte.


After World War II

It was around the end of the war that he met Iry LeJeune. Yule 2009, p. 128. He began playing with Iry Lejeune and the Calcasieu Playboys after he moved to Lake Charles. They played together regularly until 1955 when Lejeune died. Fuselier was driving from the Green Wing Club in Eunice, Louisiana, Eunice, when his tire was punctured. While changing the tire, a car hit Fuselier's car, killing Lejeune. Fuselier suffered many injuries as well. His daughter remembers his lung was collapsed and he had many broken bones; others mention a head injury. Savoy 1984, p. 143. Yule 2009, p. 129. He continued playing with his Merrymakers which consisted of Norris Courville on drums, Desbra Fontenot on steel guitar and Preston Manuel on guitar.


Legacy

Fuselier played for almost his entire life, until his death in 1976. Many other musicians have covered his songs and they are now a part of standard Cajun repertoire. His three most famous songs are "Ma chère Bassette", "Jongle à Moi" and "Chère Tout-Toute". Written for his daughter, he is the first to record "Chère Tout-Toute" which would be re-recorded by many local artists. He never learned to use four fingers when playing the violin. He is quoted as saying, "All that money I made, I made it with three fingers." He is also credited with being the first person to incorporate the steel guitar into Cajun music by hiring Atlas Frugé to play in his band. Savoy 1984, p. 145. :*''Ma Cher Bassett'
Listen (MP3)
:*''Ponce A Moi'
Listen (MP3)


Family

Fuselier had two daughters, Myrtle "Tout-Toute" Berglund and Ethel Champagne.


References


Further reading

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fuselier, Jean Baptiste American folk musicians Musicians from Louisiana Cajun fiddlers 1901 births 1976 deaths American accordionists 20th-century American violinists People from Oberlin, Louisiana Bluebird Records artists Folkways Records artists