The Sundown Playboys

The Sundown Playboys are a Cajun music band still active in Louisiana.

Originally founded in 1945 by accordionist Lionel Cormier, the band has been performing almost continuously throughout the United States. After the death of Lionel Cormier in the early 1970s, Lesa Cormier decided to carry on the tradition of his father's band. With the help of two other band members and his own son, the tradition of the Sundown Playboys continues.

Over the years, several accordion players have filled the big shoes that Lionel Cormier behind, but for 60 years three core members of the group have continued playing. Lesa Cormier has played drums since the beginning with his father. He was seventeen when he started. Wallace "Red" Touchet plays the fiddle and Larry Miller plays the steel guitar. After leading a band of his own, accordionist August Broussard joined the band in 2000. In the 1980s, Lesa's son, Danny, joined the band as a bass player and sometimes steel guitar, but now plays steel guitar with Jackie Caillier and the Cajun Cousins. A few years ago, Danny's son joined the band as bass player. Brian Cormier is a fourth generation member of the Sundown Playboys.

Trivia

* Former Smiths frontman and solo star, Morrissey, included their song "Saturday Nite Special" (which, notably, was released by The Beatles' Apple Records label) on his "Under the Influence" album.

External links

* [http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/lcormier.htm Lesa Cormier and the Sundown Playboys]
* [http://www.sundownplayboys.com/images/AuBal.mp3 Sundown Playboys mp3: Rendezvous Au Bal]
* [http://www.sundownplayboys.com/images/CountryBoy.mp3 Sundown Playboys mp3: Country Boy Waltz]
* [http://npmusic.org "Cajun Music mp3: Hadacol it Something"]
* [http://www.cajunradio.org/ Clarence's Info on Cajun and Zydeco Music and Culture]
* [http://apple.relocution.com/apple_44.html The Sundown Playboys on Apple Records] (Apple 44)