"Cata Houla Breakdown" - Jolly Boys of Lafayette

Joe Fabacher was a talented accordion player that hailed from Acadia Parish. He began his band in 1935, modeled after other successful area groups such as the Hackberry Ramblers, the Dixie Ramblers, and the Rayne-Bo Ramblers, and Leo Soileau's Aces.  He kicked off his recording career with his very first recording done in Dallas, Texas.

Decca's A&R man, David Kapp, made pilgrimages through the south in areas such as Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, San Antonio and Charlotte. He stated 

"In Dallas we got a lot of Cajuns coming in. I've seen some of those artists drive 500 miles in tumble-down cars to get an audition".1  

Joseph Fabacher,
Leon "Crip" Credeur

By 1937, Decca invited the group, composed of Leon "Crip" Credeur on fiddle and vocals, Joseph Fabacher on accordion and Francis "Red" Fabacher on guitar, to Dallas where they performed the "Cata Houla Breakdown" (#17029) in the Adolphus Hotel.  Named after a small town east of Lafayette called Catahoula, it featured the rarely heard accordion talent of Joseph Fabacher.   It was a rendition of the Breaux Brother's "Le One Step A Martin".  When he wasn't playing music, he was busy managing venues such as Rene Guilbeau's Dance Hall in Carencro.  His brother Francis played guitar and during much of the late 1930s, the two had similar bands that performed in the same dance-hall circles.   


The Jolly Boys continued to play in places such as A. Romaire's Hall, Voorhies Roof Garden, Dixie Bar Dance Hall in Iota, Welcome Club in Crowley, Lucky Star Dance Hall, and the Armory Hall.   Songs like "Cata Houla Breakdown" became better known as Aldus Roger's "Crowley Two Step". 

Daily Advertiser
July 14, 1939

   

1. Billboard Magazine. Hotel Room Recording Studios. Apr 3, 1971.

Release Info:
61912-A Cata Houla Breakdown | Decca 17029-A
61919-A La Valse De Lafayette | Decca 17029-B

Find: 

CAJUN-Rare & Authentic (JSP, 2008)