finetune artist: Nathan Abshire

b. 27 June 1913, between Bayou Queue de Tortue and Gueydan, Louisiana, USA, d. 13 May 1981, Basile, Louisiana, USA. The eldest of six children, Abshire became one of the major stars of Cajun music. Both his parents played accordion and he taught the instrument as a child, making his first public appearance at the age of eight in a dancehall in Mermentau Cove. In 1935, backed by the Rayne-Bo Ramblers, he recorded for Bluebird Records but spent the next decade in semi-obscurity when the accordion became less popular, although he then learned to play fiddle. Although illiterate and having some difficulty in speaking English, he was drafted for army service. Having never previously been beyond the bayous, he found the experience highly unsettling, but after breaking a leg he was soon discharged. He returned to Basile, where he established himself by playing weekly bookings at the Avalon Club. In 1949, he recorded his noted "Pine Grove Blues" for Virgil Bozeman's OT label. This song about a wrongdoing woman proved very popular and was recorded by Abshire several times during his career. In 1950, George Khoury persuaded him to join his Khoury's and Lyric labels, where he achieved some local success with "La Valse De Holly Beach" and "Shamrock Waltz", but throughout the 50s he struggled to make a living playing dancehalls.

Listen to Nathan Abshire at Finetune.

(1995) The Great Cajun Accordionist
(1993) French Blues

Pine Grove Blues
Cannon Ball Special
Jolie Blon
Step It Fast
Avalon Waltz