 Don
Fontenot (accordion and vocals) was born in Opelousas, La. and now resides
in Grand Prairie (10 miles east of Ville Platte). Playing guitar since the
age of 20, Don was given an accordion by his grandmother in 1992. Self-taught
on both guitar and accordion, Don quickly learned some of the basic Cajun
songs and graduated to the more difficult melodies with the help of jam
sessions and friends. Starting with W.D. Fontenot and the Cherokee Playboys,
Don began playing accordion regularly in 1994 and was a member of the Tate
Cove Ramblers. Listed as influences for Don's aggressive and upbeat playing
style are Aldus Roger and Austin Pitre. Don is married to Millie and has
one married son and a beautiful granddaughter. |
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Karl
Deshotels (guitar and bass) was born in Ville Platte,La. and began playing
Cajun and country music at age 8. He also plays accordion and has played
with the Tate Cove Ramblers, and The Spicy Cajun Band. Karl mixes the sound
or as his fellow band members say, "Karl puts the ear in the sound."
Karl is an electrician and a cattle farmer and in his leisure time he likes
to hunt and fish. Karl's father Ellis wrote an award winning song The Porch Swing for the band in 2001. Karl still lives in Ville Platte and has two children. |
Clyde Langley (drums) was born in Jennings, La. and now resides in Lacassine. Playing drums since the age of 20, he began by practicing to songs on the radio after hours in his mother Jean's beauty shop. He quicklylearned some basic Cajun songs and with the help of jam sessions and friends soon graduated to the more difficult licks on the drums. Clyde began his career with Southern Beat and later played with Cajun Image and various other bands. Listed as influences for Clyde's aggressive and upbeat playing style are his brother Boogie Broussard, Kevin Menard and the music of Belton Richard plus other various artists. Clyde is married to Michelle and together they have five daughters.
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Layton
W. Thibodeaux, Sr. (bass, guitar, and vocal) was born in Lake Charles, La.
Layton started playing country, Cajun and rock 'n roll at the age of 12.
In the mid 1980's, he played guitar in Cajun bands, namely Buford Galley
and the Holly Playboys, August Broussard and the Calcasieu Ramblers, Bobby
Leger, The Lake Charles Playboys and The Spicy Cajun Band. In 1996, he started
playing bass guitar and now plays bass with Les Amis De La Louisiane. Layton
resides in Basile,La. with his wife, Judy, and seven of his eight children.
Layton enjoys playing Cajun music and bringing our music heritage to other
parts of the country via his radio show played live Saturday mornings on
the internet on Louisiana Proud KBON 101.1FM. |
Mark Young (fiddle and keyboard) was born in Mamou, La. Mark started playing guitar at home and in 1976 Austin Pitre took him underwing and let him play with his band. Austin also convinced Mark to learn to sing Cajun songs. In 1976 Mark and Jamie Berzas started the band Cajun Tradition. They cut
their first album, La Veille Facon, in 1990 which was nominated for a grammy. Mark and Jamie played together for 19 years. Mark stopped playing for a while and then met Don Fontenot and joined Les Amis De La Louisiane. He is very enthusiastic about his fellow musicians and their music. Mark can
play a variety of instruments and has played lead guitar and vocals with Willis Prudhomme and Zydeco Express. He also loves to hunt and restore classic cars. |
Don
Fontenot (accordion and vocals) was born in Opelousas, La. and now resides
in Grand Prairie (10 miles east of Ville Platte). Playing guitar since the
age of 20, Don was given an accordion by his grandmother in 1992. Self-taught
on both guitar and accordion, Don quickly learned some of the basic Cajun
songs and graduated to the more difficult melodies with the help of jam
sessions and friends. Starting with W.D. Fontenot and the Cherokee Playboys,
Don began playing accordion regularly in 1994 and was a member of the Tate
Cove Ramblers. Listed as influences for Don's aggressive and upbeat playing
style are Aldus Roger and Austin Pitre. Don is married to Millie and has
one married son and a beautiful granddaughter.
Mark Young (fiddle and keyboard) was born in Mamou, La. Mark started playing guitar at home and in 1976 Austin Pitre took him underwing and let him play with his band. Austin also convinced Mark to learn to sing Cajun songs. In 1976 Mark and Jamie Berzas started the band Cajun Tradition. They cut
their first album, La Veille Facon, in 1990 which was nominated for a grammy. Mark and Jamie played together for 19 years. Mark stopped playing for a while and then met Don Fontenot and joined Les Amis De La Louisiane. He is very enthusiastic about his fellow musicians and their music. Mark can
play a variety of instruments and has played lead guitar and vocals with Willis Prudhomme and Zydeco Express. He also loves to hunt and restore classic cars.
