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 nameFernest Arceneaux
Also known asThe New Prince of Accordion
Born(1940-08-27)August 27, 1940
Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 2008(2008-09-04) (aged 68)
Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresZydeco
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Accordion, vocals
Years active1960s–2000s
LabelsOrnament, JSP, Mardi Gras

Biography

edit

Arceneaux 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

edit

Arceneaux's style was heavily influenced by soul music, including artists Ray Charles and Johnny Ace.[4]

Discography

edit

Studio 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
  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason (n.d.). "Fernest Arceneaux". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Fernest Arceneaux". discogs. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  4. ^ 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)
edit