Hadley Fontenot does the most incredible rendition of "My True Love" on the Balfa Brothers collection album. He is truly a master of the bouncing finger. I have looked for more of his work but can't find anything other than he played with the Balfas and with Nathan Abshire, but can't find any of their recordings. How well known was he, what do you all think of his work, and do you know of any other sources of his recordings?

BTW, Big Nick (you rock, man), I love your playing of My True Love on your boxlessons. Your site is fantastic. Lacassine Special is my latest obsession.
I can't thank you enough.

Hal

Hadley Fontenot also played with Bee and Ed Deshotels until Bee Deshotels died. It is very unfortunate that he has not been recorded more. He may have played on some of the Deshotels Brothers recordings, but I'm not sure. He was one of the best accordion players that I new. I played with him quite often in the last 3 or 4 years before he died, and I remember that he was one who loved to play, as the old saying goes, more that eating.

Dowell

Take a listen to Cory McCauley (and his Evangeline Aces). He lists Hadley Fontenot as his mentor on the CD and IMO Cory bounces the finger aa well as anyone. His CD is my all time favourite with some outstanding original tunes.

Aside from the Balfa Brothers album we call the yellow one (Balfa Brothers Play Traditional Cajun Music?), he is on another Balfa Brothers album called The New York Concerts, and an album on Folkways called Cajun Social Music. New York Concerts might be hard to find. You could try Floyd's Record shop.

Neal;
I think the New York Concert recording was reissued and is now available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores--I don't have the CD in front of me and can't recall the title, but seem to recall that Mr. Hadley is featured as accordionist.

Peace,
Griff

Sorry--my bad...

The disc I mentioned is "The Balfa Brothers-Legends of Cajun Music."

The accordionist is Nonc Allie Young, not Mr. Hadley.
Peace,
Griff

Yeah, the one I remember had Hadley Fontenot on one side for sure, and Allie Young on the other. It wasn't the same trip as the Crackerbarrel cd, because the Crackerbarrel cd had Will on second fiddle, but the other one had Dick Richard on it. It was a Swallow production, so they might still have some old lps or tapes. I never saw it on cd.

There was, in Europe, a CD issued called "The New York Concerts PLUS". Is this the one with both Hadley Fontenot and Nonc Allie Young on it?
I am looking for it - I saw it on eBay but didn't nab it.
The date given on the "New York.."/Cracker Barrel CDs I believe is 1974. Didn't Mr. Fontenot pass on just previous to that?

PS - I am new to the forum, so I figured I'd let my first post be a possible help one!

Cody

I am also not a reliable source, but I think Hadley Fontenot died sometime around 1987. The last time I jammed with him was probably around 1985/6 - maybe a year earlier - I'm not very good with remembering dates.

Dowell

Allie Young, Nathan Abshire and Hadley Fontenot are all on the CD.

Hadley Fontenot was on the 1978 recording. The CD is a bit unclear but this would suggest he's on about 9 tracks.