Eston Bellow, 86, of Eunice, will have a display of memory books of his music career.
The display will be on hand for the public viewing at the Cajun Music Hall of Fame & Museum, located at 240 S. CC Duson Ave. in Eunice, through the weekend after Mardi Gras.
Bellow, is a member of the Acadiana Charter Chapter of the Cajun French Music Association.
His music career started when his cousin Harry L. LaFleur introduced him to music.
“LaFleur was taught by his brother to play the guitar. The year was 1947, and I was a junior in high school. He asked me to purchase a guitar and he wanted to start a band, and in which we did. I went to Montgomery Ward in Eunice and purchased a guitar, and paid $5 a month, and started with lessons,” Bellow said.
According to Bellow, Harry was the booking agent and started the band, The Louisiana Aces.
“Then Harry had learned to play the fiddle, I was on the guitar, and my brother Norris on the drums, and other players. Later my brother quit the band and I switched to the drums.”
Later on two other musicians were added, Joseph Cabrie Menier on guitar (he later switched to steel guitar) and Willie D. Gil Jr. also on guitar.
Bellow said that a four-piece country and western band was formed and was named The Sundowners, and they played mainly in Eunice.
Fast forward to the year 1958, Bellow, added, “We went to Ville Platte, the first recording, “The Flames of Hell and Opelousas” on a D accordion, and later the rest of his songs of which I have a copy of all of them. We played with Austin Pitre as the Evangeline Playboys for a while, and the went back to our booking and dances.”
Bellow added, “In 1984 with my help and others Harry did a festival at the Northwest Community Center in Eunice, and thus he started, with my help, The Cajun French Music Association. And along with the help from a group of other people.
On display at Eunice Cajun Music Hall of Fame will be Bellow’s, “The Clock No. 1 Recording,” Harry and The Cajuns,” “Donald Fontenot, Nathan Fontenot, T Mule,” “Bobby Michot-Going Back,” “JC Labbie and Ets Ses Amis Cajun,” “Harry and The Cajuns, Leopold Manuel,” “Nonc Allie Young and The Basile Cajun Band,” “Jean Savoie and the Bayou Ramblers,” “The Old Timers,” and much more.
The Cajun Music Hall of Fame & Museum hours include Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
