Fernest Arceneaux (August 27, 1940 – September 4, 2008)[1] was a French-speaking Creole Zydeco accordionist and singer from Louisiana. He was known as "The New Prince of Accordion" for his virtuosity.
Fernest Arceneaux | |
|---|---|
 Arceneaux playing the accordion | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Fernest Arceneaux |
| Also known as | The New Prince of Accordion |
| Born | August 27, 1940 Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | September 4, 2008 (aged 68) Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Zydeco |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Accordion, vocals |
| Years active | 1960s–2000s |
| Labels | Ornament, JSP, Mardi Gras |
Biography
editArceneaux was born to a large Creole family based in Carencro, Louisiana. Arceneaux first picked up his brother-in-law's accordion as a child and learned to play by copying his father, Ferdinand Arceneaux, a musician whom he backed at local house parties.[2]
By the 1960s, Arceneaux had switched to guitar in his rock and roll group Fernest and the Thunders. Not until 1978, at the behest of his hero Clifton Chenier, did Arceneaux return to the accordion.
Also in 1978 Arceneaux and his band were discovered by Belgian blues enthusiast Robert Sacre. They recorded their first album, and began touring extensively, particularly in Europe.[2] Arceneaux later earned the title "The New Prince of Accordion" for his virtuostic playing.[1]
In addition to his band Fernest and The Thunders, Arceneaux's discography includes recordings under band names Fernest Arceneaux and the Zydeco All Stars, and Fernest Arceneaux & His Louisiana French Band.[3]
Style
editArceneaux's style was heavily influenced by soul music, including artists Ray Charles and Johnny Ace.[4]
Discography
editStudio and live albums
edit| Album title | Record label | Stock number | Release year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fernest and The Thunders | Blues Unlimited Records | LP-5005 | 1979 |
| Live+Well | Ornament Records (Germany) | CH-7.114 | 1979 |
| Zydeco Stomp | JSP Records (UK) | JSP 1029 | 1981 (re-released on CD in 1995 and 2011) |
| From The Heart of the Bayous | JSP Records (UK) | JSP 1064 | 1983 |
| Zydeco Thunder | Greybeard Records | G.R.I.-101 | 1985 |
| Gumbo Special | Chrisly Records | 40006 | 1987 |
| Schubert Records (Germany) | SCH-104 | 1987 | |
| CMA (Germany) | CM 8016 | 1992 and 1994 | |
| Rockin' Pneumonia | Ornament Records (Germany) | CM-8009 | 1991 |
| CMA (Germany) | CM-8009 | 1992 | |
| Crisly Records | 30009 | 2000 | |
| Zydeco Blues Party (with special guest Rockin' Dopsie, Jr.) | Mardi Gras Records | MG 1019 | 1994 |
| Old School Zydeco | Mardi Gras Records | MG 1051 | 2000 |
Singles
edit| Song title(s) | Album title | Record label | Stock number | Release year | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Nobody Wants to Dance With Me" / "Hey La Ba" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2005 | 1976 | Vocals by Bobby Price; 7", 45 RPM |
| "It's All Right" / "Mean Mean Woman" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2006 | 1976 | Bobby Price with Fernest & The Thunders; 7", 45 RPM |
| "Mustang Sally" / "Lost Lover Blues" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2007 | 1976 | 7", 45 RPM |
| "It Ain't Right" / "Irene" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2008 | 1977 | Lead vocals by Gene Morris; 7", 45 RPM |
| "Lonely Lonely Nights" / "I Know" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2009 | 1977 | Side 1 vocals by Gene Morris / Side 2 vocals by Kathryn Ervin; 7", 45 RPM |
| "Mother's Love" / "My Girl Josephine" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2011 | 1978 | 7", 45 RPM |
| "Little Woman" / "Zydeco Boogoloo" | Fernest and the Thunders | Blues Unlimited Records | 2017 | 1979? | 7", 45 RPM |
| "Last Night" / "I'm on My Way Back Home" | <unknown> | Mardi Gras Records | MG 204 | 1994 | 7", 45 RPM |
| "Midnight Train" / "Send Me Some Lovin" | <unknown> | Blues Unlimited Records | 2023 | <unknown> | 7", 45 RPM |
Various artist compilation albums
edit| Album title | Record label | Stock number | Release year | Song title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zydeco Blues | Flyright Records (UK) | LP 539 | 1978 | "Lonely Lonely Nights" |
| "Lost Lover Blues" | ||||
| "Nobody Wants To Dance" | ||||
| "Irene" | ||||
| Zydeco Blues, v. 2 | Flyright Records (UK) | FLY 600 | 1984 | "Hey La Ba" |
| Blues Experience, volume 1 | Conifer Records (UK) | CDRR 301 | 1989 | "Bye Bye Lucille" |
| Rockin' Accordion | Flyright Records (UK) | FLY 622 | 1989 | "Mean Mean Woman" (with Bobby Price, vocals) |
| "Send Me Some Lovin'" (with Bobby Price, vocals) | ||||
| "Little Woman" | ||||
| "Mother's Love" | ||||
| Zydeco Blues | Flyright Records (UK) | FLY CD 36 | 1991 | "Little Woman" |
| "Hey La Bas" | ||||
| "Lonely Lonely Nights" | ||||
| "Lost Lover Blues" | ||||
| "Nobody Wants To Dance" | ||||
| "Irene" | ||||
| "Nobody Wants To Dance With Me" (Bobby Price, vocals) | ||||
| "Send Me Some Lovin'" (Bobby Price, vocals) | ||||
| "Mother's Love" | ||||
| Alligator Stomp: Cajun & Zydeco Classics, Vol. 3 | Rhino | R2 70312 | 1992 | "It's Alright" |
| The Ultimate Blues Collection [Tonträger]: Volume 2 | CMA (Germany) | 11002/5/8 | 1992 | <unknown> |
| The Real Blues Sampler | Ornament Records | CM-8000 | 1991 | "Don't Cry No More" |
| CMA (Germany) | CM 8000 | 1992 | "Don't Cry No More" | |
| Best of Louisiana Music: Sampler | Mardi Gras Records | MG 5015 | 1995 | "Zydeco Boogaloo" |
| Mississippi Blues, volume two | Pulse Records | PBX CD 402/2 | 1996 | "Got You on My Mind" |
| "Bernadette" | ||||
| Super Cajun! : Best of Cajun/Zydeco | Mardi Gras Records | MG 1032 | 1996 | "Bernadette" |
| "Jolie Blonde" | ||||
| Bayou Beat | EasyDisc | ED CD 7053 | 1997 | "Bernadette" |
| Zydeco: Dance Party | K-Tel International | 4012-2 | 1997 | "The Fish Song" |
| "Jolie Blonde" | ||||
| "I'm on My Way Back Home" | ||||
| Zydeco Party | Jewel Records | EDCD7045 | 1997 | "Bye Bye Lucille" |
| Zydeco Party | EasyDisc | ED CD 7045 | 1998 | "Bye Bye Lucille" |
| Zydeco Stomp: All Instrumental | Rounder | ED CD 7065 | 1998 | "Zydeco Stomp" |
| ¡Garonne! le festival: Toulouse, le fleuve aux artistes | Sude (France) | SDB 69120 ? | 2001 | "Going Back To Big Mamou" |
| Ultimate Zydeco | Mardi Gras Records | MG 1056 | 2001 | "I'm on My Way Back Home" |
| "Eh, Mama" | ||||
| Zydecajun Instrumentals | Mambito Records | MR001 | 2002 | <unknown> |
| The Ultimate Zydeco Party | Mambito Records | MR018 | 2003 | "Going Back To Big Mamou" |
| "Don't Mess with My Toot Toot" | ||||
| Best of Zydeco | Mardi Gras Records | MG 5101 | 2005 | "I'm on My Way Back Home" |
| "Pine Grove Blues (My Negress)" | ||||
| Ultimate New Orleans | Mardi Gras Records | MG 1091 | 2005 | "My Negress (Pine Grove Blues)" |
| Bayou Trax: Louisiana Tailgatin' | Mardi Gras Records | MG 1116 | 2008 | "Don't Mess with My Toot-Toot" |
| Blues Party | Putumayo World Music | PUT 360-2 | 2016 | "I Don't Want Nobody" |
Guest appearance credits
edit| Album title | Artist(s) | Record label | Stock number | Release year | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Trains a' Runnin' | Bobby Price | Blues Unlimited Records | LP-5025 | 1985 | accordion |
| Zydeco Train Revue | J. J. Caillier | Caillier Records | LP-8601 | 1986 | accordion |
References
edit- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason (n.d.). "Fernest Arceneaux". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ a b Nyhan, Pat; Rollins, Brian; Babb, David (1997). Let The Good Times Roll!: A Guide to Cajun & Zydeco Music. Portland, Maine: Upbeat Books. pp. 137–138. ISBN 9780965823203. OCLC 38128267.
- ^ "Fernest Arceneaux". discogs. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ^ Herzhaft, Gérard: La gran enciclopedia del blues, Ed. RobinBook, Barcelona, 2003, ISBN 84-95601-82-6, p. 381 (Encyclopedia of the Blues, University of Arkansas Press)
