Known as "The Singing Frenchman", Johnny William "J.W." Billiot was born in Hamshire, Texas and raised in Louisiana with exposure to the music filling the dancehalls of east Texas and southwest Louisiana. He played Cajun music standards alongside country and western classics and by 1949, his band landed a recording opportunity with DeLuxe Records in Sulphur, Louisiana. Mimicking the songs of the Cajuns further east, he recorded "Jay Pas Pour Restez (I Ain't Gonna Stay)" (#6043), better known known as the "Waltz That Carried Me To My Grave" by Joe Falcon. It was a melody that influenced other recordings such as Dewey Balfa and Elise Deshotel's "La Valse Da Courage". His daughter Mary recalled:
He continued to write music, but never published anything. If someone ask him to play a song on the accordion, we knew we were going to be there a while. It might be four or five hours before he would quit and go home.[1]
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| The Orange Leader May 15, 1964 |
Ton papa et ta maman, (m'a) toujours dit, fille,Ton papa et ta maman, (à ton vieux nègre).Ah, asteure j'ai toujours dit pour revenir, fille,Asteure, j'ai toujours dit, mais, malheureuse.Ton papa et ta maman, malheureuse,Ton papa et ta maman, eh, moi j'connais,Rappelle-toi à quel avenir, que (...) fille,Et toi, quel avenir, moi, je peux avoir?
His band consisted of Johnny on accordion and vocals, his wife Bessie “Grace” Billiot watching nearby, possibly Bill Guillory or Nick Guidry on fiddle and Billy Rayon or Lloyd Gilbert on guitar. At the dances he would step on the dance floor and find a lady to dance with him, and these extended bellows allowed him to put the accordion around her and play it while they danced. Johnny like to party, so he built a compartment on the bass side of his accordion for a “jo-jo” (a half pint flask of whiskey) in case they would run out of something to drink. He was known to play all day, all night, and into the morning, many times resulting in sore fingers and a bleeding thumb.[1]
Your father and your mom, what they always said, girl,Your father and your mom, (to your old man).Now, I've always said I'd return, girl,Now, I've always said, well, oh my.Your father and your mom, oh my,Your father and your mom, eh, I don't know anymore,Remember what future you have, girl,And you, what future can I have?
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| The Liberty Vindicator Jun 30, 1949 |
George Jones used to come by our house in Evadale and sit and talk for hours with Johnny. Most of the time drunk, and always had women trouble.[1]
Release Info:
999 Jay Pas Pour Restez | Deluxe 6043-A
997 Valse De Beaumont | Deluxe 6043-B
References
- Cajun Dancehall Heyday by Ron Yule
- Lyrics by Stephane F
