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On April 18, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia Breaux Freres - Amédée Breaux on accordion with his brother Ophé on guitar and Cléopha on the fiddle along with their sister, Cleoma Breaux on guitar and vocals - recorded "Ma blonde est partie," which is thought to be the earliest recording of the Cajun standard "Jolie Blonde".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Jolie Blonde" by Luderin Darbone's Hackberry Ramblers

In 1935 The Hackberry Ramblers began recording for RCA- Bluebird. Their output included the first version of the Cajun classic "Jolie Blonde" under that title.

"This enduring Louisiana string ensemble was formed by fiddler Luderin Darbone and his accordion-playing Hackberry neighbor Edwin Duhon. The pair played their first dance in 1933, had a regional hit two years later with "Jolie Blonde," and continued to lead the off-again, on-again combo well into the 1990s. Luderin supplied the band with hillbilly songs he'd learned in Texas, while Duhon grew up immersed in French music. Recorded mid-career, in 1963 and 1965, this album's 26 tracks capture the band in fine, fun form. The songs often combine English and French verses and walk a fine line between Cajun and Western swing rhythms. The result is a beautiful evocation of the sort of music one might hear throughout mid century oil-field communities: a lilting, unadulterated dance music with an emphasis on Saturday- night waltzes, stomps, and two-steps."
[Richard Gehr, Amazon.com essential recording]
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to this biography of the renowned Cajun fiddler on the Handbook of Texas Online site -

"Around 1946 he organized a band that he called the Melody Boys. Perhaps in honor of his daughter, Linda, he rewrote an old Cajun waltz, "Jolie Blonde" (Pretty Blonde) and renamed it "Jole Blon." He recorded the song in 1946 for the Gold Star label, owned by Bill Quinn of Houston. "Jole Blon" became a favorite in the field of country and western music and a standard number in Texas and Louisiana clubs and dance halls. A year after Choates's recording, Aubrey "Moon" Mullican, a Texas-born singer and piano player, made an even bigger hit with the song. "Jole Blon," which Choates performed in the key of A instead of the traditional G, featured slurred fiddle notes and has been sung with both Cajun French and English romantic lyrics as well as nonsense lyrics with references to the "dirty rice" and "filé gumbo" of Cajun cuisine. Choates, who suffered from chronic alcoholism, sold "Jole Blon" for $100 and a bottle of whiskey."






 

 

Jole Blon (various artists)
[Bear Family - Audio CD]

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"This release includes most of the early versions, including the original. But what it adds is something you could not get without collecting "umpteen other releases." The bands in East Texas and SW Louisiana were all influenced by the "country/ hillbilly" and "western swing" styles of music in the 40s. These "take-outs" on the original story -- invent new stories about JB in many different situations. This collection is great fun. It spans the period from the original recording to a 1958 cover by the 21-year old Waylon Jennings, sung in French and accompanied by Buddy Holly on guitar."Dale Johnson - see full review here

 

Track Listing:

 

1. Harry Choates: Jole Blon (Pretty Blond)

2. Leo Soileau: Le Valse De Gueydan

3. Moon Mullican: New Pretty Blonde (New Jole Blon)

4. Red Foley: New Jolie Blonde (New Pretty Blonde)

5. Amédée Breaux: Ma Blonde Est Partié    (My Blonde Went And Left Me)

6. Amidie Breaux: Jole Blonde

7. Luderin Darbone & The Hackberry Ramblers: Jole Blon

8. Eddie Shuler: Jolie Blonde

9. Happy Doc and the Boys: New Jolie Blond

10. Bud Messner: Slippin' Around With Jole Blon

11. Roy Acuff: (Our Own) Jole Blon

12. Johnny Bond: The Daughter Of Jole Blon

13. Jesse James: When Jole Blon And Kilroy Got Married

14. Dickie Jones: Jole Blon Like The Boogie

15. Hank Snow: When Mexican Joe Met Jole Blon

16. Wayne Raney: Jole Blon's Ghost

17. Jack Rivers: Shame, Shame On Jolie

18. Bob Wills: Jolie Blond Likes The Boogie

19. Moon Mullican: Jole Blon's Sister

20. Tommy Thompson: Dinner With Jole Blon

21. Sheb Wooley: Peeping Through The Key Hole      (Watching Jole Blon)

22. Cliffie Stone: Peepin' Thru The Keyhole (Watching Jole Blon)

23. Moon Mullican: Jole Blon Is Gone, Amen

24. Betty Amos: Jole John

25. Waylon Jennings: Jole Blon

26. Charles Lee: Rock And Roll Jolie Blonde

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Biographies - 32 historic and current interviews with many of the greatest Cajun and Zydeco musicians who have ever lived (Dewey Balfa, Clifton Chenier, Iry LeJeune, Amédé Ardoin, Joe Falcon, and many, many more). Rare photos - over 200 pictures of Cajun musicians, most never before published. Cajun stories - told and transcribed in their original Cajun French.  106 Cajun & Zydeco songs - in Cajun and Creole French, accompanied with simple phonetics for English speakers, and english translations. Cajun instrument instructions, How to Play Cajun Fiddle, Accordion, Guitar, Guitar chords, etc. And much more -
interviews in French to demonstrate the  Cajun language, discographies,  lists of how & where to find Cajun records.

Buy the paperback book from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

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Listen to ‘Joli Blon’ by The Rosinators
[from ’The Rosinators’, 2003]

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Lyrics

(Joli Blon - as sung by The Rosinators)

1. Joli Blon, ma chere 'tit fille
Gardez donc quoi t'aprés faire
Joli Blon, tu croyais
Il avait juste toi dedans le pays

2. Eh a ha! Eh a ha!
Joli Blon ma 'tit fille criminelle
Joli Blon, tu m'as laisse moi tout seul

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French with English translation

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