"Port Arthur Waltz" - Harry Choates

Harry Choates was born in either Rayne or New Iberia, Louisiana, yet early on, he moved with his mother, Tave Manard, to Port Arthur, Texas, during the 1930s.  By the time he reached the age of twelve he had learned to play a fiddle and performed for tips in Port Arthur barbershops.  The Melody Boys, originally formed with Joe Manuel, Eddie Pursley, and local swing musicians around Lake Charles, were in desperate need of a fiddle player.   Harry was quickly added to the mix and eventually became the band's front man. 

Joe knew Harry and his talent from playing together in Leo Soileau's group in 1941 and by 1946, they teamed up for his famous "Jole Blon" recording.  The following recording session, Joe convinced Harry to have Johnnie play piano in the group. The group could become Harry first consistent band for many of the early Gold Star releases. 

Daily Advertiser
May 31, 1947

He, mignonne.

"I know I'm leaving Port Arthur", jolie fille, chérie,

Oh, chère, mais, moi j'connais, j'mérite pas ça.

He, petite, mais, moi j'connais, mignonne,

Oh, pourquoi t'as fais, moi j'connais, tu voir, t'es regret,

Eh, chérie, moi j'connais, mignonne,

Oh, il y a pas longtemps, mais, malheureuse, ça fait d'la peinne.

Ooh, petite, malheureuse, chere, cherie,

Eh, chère, mais, moi j'connais, t'as m'fais pitié. 

Harry Choates, Johnnie Ruth Manuel, Joe Manuel,
Eddie Pursley, B.D. Williams
Speedy's Broken Mirror, Sulphur, LA, 1947
Image by Tim Knight

With the runaway success of "Jole Blon" apparent by the fall of 1946, Quinn quickly brought Choates back to his studio for a follow-up release.  Suddenly Cajun music was commercial, and, for the time being, Quinn would insist that Harry exclusively record traditional material.   "Port Arthur Waltz" (#1319) may have been a traditional piece of material, although Choates claimed authorship.4  According to good friend Levan Meyers, he and Harry were returning from a gig in Sulpher, Louisiana.

Before leaving to return to Port Arthur, Harry purchased a fifth of Jack Daniel's whiskey and by the time they reached Orange Bridge, Harry had consumed the entire fifth, all the while singing what he called the "Port Arthur Waltz".  He was making up the entire song as they drove along.2  

Lake Charles American Press
Feb 27, 1947

The band consisted of Edmond Pursley on guitar, Abe Manuel on guitar, Joe Manuel on banjo, B.D.Williams on bass, Curzy "Porkchop" Roy on drums, and a honky-tonk pianist by the name of Johnnie Manuel.  According to author Tim Knight, his band recorded the "Port Arthur Waltz", which along with "Jole Blon" were hot sellers in the Port Arthur, Beaumont, and Orange County market.2  

Hey cutie.

I know I'm leaving Port Arthur, my pretty girl, dearie,

Oh, dear, well, I know, I don't deserve that,

Hey, little one, well, I know, cutie,

Oh, what you've done, I know, you'll see, you'll be sorry.

Hey, dearie, I know, cutie,

Oh, over there it won't be long, well, oh my , that's painful.

Oooh, little one, oh my, dear, dearie,

Hey, dear, well, I know, you've made me pitiful. 

Released on the flip-side of another traditional tune, "Allons A Lafayette", "Port Arthur Waltz" would not become the national hit that "Jole Blon" was.  In fact, neither Quinn nor Choates would ever had another one of those. But it did sell well in Louisiana and Texas, and that market was large enough to justify Quinn's continuing interest.4   After 1959, Starday purchased most of the rights to the Gold Star records, re-releasing some of Harry's tunes.

   

1. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fch67
2. Poor Hobo: The Tragic Life of Harry Choates, a Cajun Legend by Tim Knight
3. Image by Museum of the Gulf Coast
4. Devil In The Bayou by Andrew Brown.  Liner notes.

Release Info:
Allons A Lafayette | Gold Star 1319-A
Port Arthur Waltz | Gold Star 1319-B

ST 2318 Louisiana Boogie | Starday 224
ST 2296 Port Arthur Waltz | Starday 224

Find:
Harry Choates ‎– The Fiddle King Of Cajun Swing (Arhoolie, 1982, 1993)
Devil In The Bayou - The Gold Star Recordings (Bear Family, 2002)