Mayuse LaFleur

Early Cajun singer and accordionist Mayeus LaFleur was born in Mamou, Louisiana in 1906. He was raised by his paternal grandmother, taken to her by his father after Mayeus' mother abandoned him. The boy began singing and playing accordion at an early age, earned a good reputation in the Ville Platte area, and later became friends with another young musician, fiddler Leo Soileau. The two were quickly a popular duo, performing a variety of occasions, which expanded their repertoire beyond Cajun French favorites to include hillbilly tunes, as well. The duo first recorded late in the summer of 1928. Each got paid $100, and LaFleur told Soileau that he intended to use the money to find his mother. Less than two weeks after the recording session, the two musicians played a dance, and afterwards visited their friend Alexander Bellon. While there, some other visitors dropped by to discuss business (moonshine). A quarrel broke out, Bellon got shot a few times. LaFleur ran to his aid, but got shot and died at the age of 22. ~ Joslyn Layne