Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week

Nov. 2-8, 2003    Chicot State Park

Master Musicians, Nov. 7, 2003

Note: Ethelie Tate Frugé died Feb. 13, 2009, at the age of 89.

Throughout the week, master musicians performed during the afternoon. Unfortunately, the work week continued at LSUE so it was impossible to photograph all of them. However, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2003, one of the performers was Ethelie Tate Frugé, a legendary musician in Evangeline Parish and grandmother of Nicole Gil, LSUE associate professor of paralegal studies, so it was a session not to be missed. Ethelie Tate  Frugé is also the sister of the late Paul Tate of Mamou, a major force in efforts to preserve Cajun culture.

In years past, she performed with musicians like Cyprien Landreneau, but the songs that the family members who were in the audience that Friday especially wanted to hear were the ones she played at family gatherings. "Play 'The Old Pine Tree," that song that you and Hazel used to do," someone said. (Craig Fuselier, a son of her sister, the late Hazel Fuselier, had helped her tune her guitar earlier in the week.) And, of course, she obliged, bringing back memories for all of her family members and, as her wonderful smile attests, filling her with a joy that she readily shared with everyone there.

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Shown from left are Steve Riley, Peter Schwartz, Jean-Jacques Aucoin, and
Ethelie Tate Frugé. Jean-Jacques is the grandson of the late Cyprien
Landreneau, an accordionist with whom Ethelie used to perform.
 
chicotshelton3.jpg (16469 bytes) chicotshelton4.jpg (16753 bytes)
chicotshelton1.jpg (18435 bytes) Note: Shelton Manuel died Jan. 4, 2005, at the age of 83.

Shelton Manuel of Eunice was the other master musician performing Friday afternoon. He is shown with Jason Frey on accordion and Sam Broussard on guitar.

For more information on Shelton Manuel, go to LSUE page on him.

 
chicotfridayfiddleworkshop.jpg (17428 bytes) Throughout the week, many workshop were offered on music and other aspects of Cajun and Creole culture. Shown at left is a fiddle workshop led by Kevin Wimmer on Friday afternoon after the master musician sessions.

Posted 11-24-03

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