Maurice Barzas : The Original Mamou Playboy

Maurice Barzas was born on Feburary 2, 1909 to parents Paul Barzas and Camille Isreal Barzas in the predominately Cajun French farming community of Point Blue, just east of the town of Mamou, Louisiana and south of the town of Ville Platte. Along with his parents, he shared a home with his six other siblings ( 4 brothers and 2 sisters). The brothers names were Edley, Pierre, Clement and Kenneth. The sisters were Hilda and Verna. Maurice and his family grew up in near poverty, and he learned the value of hard work growing up on the farm through necessity, as each member of the family had to pitch in performing daily chores to help the family make ends meet. They sharecropped the land, growing rice and cotton as it was typical for most Cajun farming families in the region. They also raised a few cattle and chickens. And as it was also typical with a lot of the Cajun people, music was a form of entertainment and a brief respite from the daily rigors of manual labor. Maurice's father was known to sing old French tunes but did not play a musical instrument. Evidently this influence sparked an interest in Maurice. At the age of 12 he began playing the harmonica which most likely provided him the base for quickly learning how to play the instrument that became his passion. The diatonic accordion. Ever since Maurice was young he and his family would visit an uncle who happened to own one and would play for him and his family many times. Maurice was especially enthralled with his playing and observed every movement he made. Not being able to contain his curiosity, he took a huge risk knowing good and well that he would get in serious trouble if he were caught, he snuck into his uncle's bedroom and located his it. He then sat on the side of his bed and proceeded to play 2 different songs the 1st time he touched it. He would continue to do this many other occasions. By the age of 13, Maurice's father Paul had come to realize how much of an interest his son continued to have for the instrument so he purchased one from Wright's Department Store in Eunice, Louisiana for the sum of $12, considered a lot of money in 1922. Maurice played with his new accordion every spare minute he had between chores and helping his father with work on the farm. He would completely wear out the instrument in 6 months. Paul went back to Wright's and bought him another accordion. This time it was a top-of-the line German made Monarch brand, at the cost of about $18. Thus, his career as a musician would begin. At 14 years old with no records or radio to listen to, he learned by going to local Bals de Maison's (house dances) with his parents. In doing so Maurice would listen to a song and run back home whistling the tune and quickly grab the accordion before he forgot it. Being only 14 at the time, he wasn't allowed to attend these dances unless he was playing. But never the less, they couldn't keep him away. He would sneak around to the back of the house or dance hall and listen to the band, keeping in mind each song he had yet to learn to play. Six months later Maurice was playing these dances for the sum of around 50 cents per player or less by passing around a hat. He would continue to play for several years. In 1929, Maurice married Armide Odom Barzas. Together they would have two sons, Frank who tragically died of health complications at the age of two weeks and then Vorance, born in 1938. By the 1930's and 1940's the popularity of the accordion began to fizzle. Maurice decided to quit playing. This period also coincided with the Great Depression Era, which most likely could have been another factor in his decision, as it was rough going for many of that time period. Maurice would use this time to spend with his wife and together would raise their only child and tend to the ever day needs of the farm. Maurice and his son Vorance would enjoy an inseparable bond. In the late 1940's after World War II ended and the accordion would become more popular than ever, the Balfa Brothers approached him one afternoon to form a band. Maurice didn't even own an accordion anymore. New ones weren't available from Germany because of their factories being bombed, so he borrowed one for two or three dances and then bought a used one from J.M. LaFleur's country store in Lawtell, Louisiana. Maurice would become the 1st accordion player that Dewy Balfa began playing with along with brother's Will and Harry. They began playing dances at the Dixie Club in Eunice which was later changed to Homer's Bar. Later, Dewy and Rodney Balfa along with Maurice, would join together with Elise Deshotel's band called the Louisiana Rhythmaires and played around the Lake Charles, Louisiana and Creole area. They also recorded six songs (one of which was the original Bambocheur Waltz) for Khourey Record label at KSLO in Opelousas, Louisiana. Author John Brovin states about Khourey Records in his book, South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous, " Lawrence Walker and Nathan Abshire headed a powerful lineup that included Elise Deshotels and his Louisiana Rhythmaires, Amar Devillier and the Louisiana Jambaleers, Will Kegley, Shuck Richard and his Louisiana Aces with Marie Falcon." The Louisiana Rhythmaires played through about 1951, but also Maurice would form his own band during that time in 1949, called the "Maurice Barzas and The Mamou Playboys". This original group consisted of Maurice on accordion, eventual CFMA Hall of Famer Lee Manuel-guitar, Clinus Isreal-fiddle & vocals, and Wilfred Aucoin on drums. Maurice didn't like to travel so he stayed close to the Mamou-Eunice-Ville Platte area. Maurice's son Vorance , who was very attached to and always with his father at the dance, became interested in playing drums after initially learning to play the guitar. Later, in 1951 when Wilford suddenly quit, Vorance was thrust upon and behind the pedestal of the drums at 13 years of age to play his 1st dance. Also, around this time Roy Fontenot began alternating with Lee Manuel on the fiddle. By the 1950's, the demand for Cajun bands had become so great that Maurice and the Mamou playboys were playing 7 days a week and there were only a handful of Cajun bands available to play in the area. Saturday afternoon would start with a live radio show at KVPI in Ville Platte with Floyd Soileau as the announcer from 4-5 PM, then Saturday night at Snook's in Ville Platte from 8:00 PM - Midnight. They would leave there and play at the Wagon Wheel in L'anse au Paille from 1-4 AM. Sunday afternoon they were at the Avalon Club and that night at the Rainbow Club in Basile. They played in Mamou on Wednesday nights and in Oakdale on Monday nights. By the mid 1950's with the increase in bands in the area the Mamou Playboys played four nights a week. They also played at other venue's such as the French Casino in Mamou, Etleys and Blue Goose in Eunice. This continued through the 1970's when the Cajun dancehall scene began to fade. The fact that Maurice was still alive around then was a blessing in itself. Around 1958 or 1959, Maurice and his wife Armide barely escaped with their lives when their house caught fire in the middle of the night. Maurice managed to escape with two necessities in hand in order to make a living and survive, his accordion and a shotgun. In 1962, Maurice and the band consisting of Vorance-drums/vocals, Lee Manuel - fiddle and Allen West-guitar entered Floyd's studio in Ville Platte and recorded "Mamou Hot Step" on the A side. The song was an instant classic and has been covered many times. The B side was "Eunice Waltz". The group made another recording in 1963. "Eunice Two Step" on the A side and "Valse de Meche" on side B. From the 1960's through 1980's other musicians played with Maurice and Vorance including Allen West, Allen Ardoin and a very special guitarist by the name of Kevin Barzas. One could only imagine the pride a Grandfather must have had to be able to witness one of his grandchildren playing on the same stage with him. Perhaps the most amazing feat accomplished by the Father and Son duo of Maurice and Vorance is the fact that for 36 years they played every Saturday night and major holidays at Snook's Bar in Ville Platte. I repeat, 36 years straight! Despite a tremendous schedule.

Has to be some sort of record right? What a testament to longevity and commitment. Nowadays a band or solo artist is lucky if they get to perform at the same venue for two weekends in a row! The Mamou Playboys also played in various festivals such as the Festival de Musique Acadienne, held at Gerard Park in Lafayette, Louisiana, Lakeview Park benefit for Hurricane Camille, among others. In 1988, Belizaire's Restaurant in Crowley inducted Maurice into it's Hall of Fame and in 1994 he was honored at the Mamou Cajun Music Festival. In 1984, a film crew from Wales came to Acadiana to shoot a documentary for television. The title was called "Small World". They crew wound up filming the Mamou area with the 1st part depicting farm life which features Maurice and the Barzas family and their music. The 2nd part features Mardis Gras in Mamou. Sadly, Maurice didn't live to see when the recording was televised. Maurice has forever left his impression on Cajun music and it's culture. He also left a great impression and was an inspiration for future Cajun accordion players. One such player was Harrison Fontenot. Harrison was not only a great accordion player in his own right, but also a master accordion builder. As a token of his appreciation to his friend and idol, in 1983, he gifted Maurice with a brand new Imperial brand accordion that was handmade by him. What a wonderful gesture and vindication for all of Maurice's accomplishment's. All this came to a man who did not read or write. According to his granddaughter Jennie Simar, Maurice spoke only French until after Armide had passed away. At the time he had to learn to speak English because she was no longer there to translate for him. Most of the time he spoke French to his grandchildren and they spoke to him in English. They understood each other. Not only has Maurice helped preserve the Cajun culture through its music, so did his son and grandson. We owe him and his family a debt of gratitude. Maurice passed away on July 23, 1985, thus causing the Original Mamou Playboys to temporarily disband, but he would leave behind a legacy that will be remembered forever in Cajun Country. ** NOTE ** November of 2022, Maurice was inducted into the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter's Cajun Music Hall of Fame. A very well deserved and long overdue accomplishment. I would like to thank those that helped with my research. The Eunice News archives, The Evangeline News archives, The Daily World in Opelousas, Bonnes Nouvelle of Ville Platte, Juan Ella Fontenot of Facebook page Family and Friends of Harrison Fontenot for pictures, Cajun author and historian Wade Falcon , Ancestry.com, The Mamou Cajun Music Festival, Tina Pilione (Responsible for the 2 CD set- Live at Snook's featuring Maurice Barzas and the Original Mamou Playboys), The 2005 article in the Independent Weekly, CFMA Lake Charles Chapter (Especially Ms Rhonda Istre). A special thank you to Mamou City Hall for answering my calls and questions and for directing me to the daughters of Vorance Barzas. Mrs. Tessie Manuel and Mrs. Jennie Simar. Thanks for the interview and personal family pictures. Much appreciation.*** Dedicated to the Barzas family. Composed by Neal P Granger