.JPG)
Timothy J (Tim) Savoy was born on February 11th, 1960 to the parents of Cajun descendants John LeeRoy Savoy and Marie " Martha" Guidry Savoy in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Tim's father was originally from an area in Acadia parish called Marias Bouler (pronounced Maurey Bu luh) in the Bosco oilfield area where the famous Tee Maurice Club (Richard's Casino) was once located. Tim's mother was originally from an area known as Coulee Croche, located just north of the Cankton community near Lafayette, Louisiana in St.Landry Parish. They met while dancing at a club. John Savoy eventually served in WWII as a gunner in a B24 bomber and saw heavy action throughout the war. He eventually relocated his family to Lake Charles and was employed with Southern Pacific railroad where he eventually retired. Martha worked as a secretary for Southern Construction before the company eventually closed. Then she was employed at Mid South Insurance in Lake Charles before eventually retiring. Tim grew up in a home surrounded by Cajun music and around grandparents who played music. Both of his grandfathers, Gilbert Savoy and Edgar Guidry, played accordion. One of his great-grandmothers, Emily Guidry played the accordion. His uncle Eugene Guidry play accordion and two of his great-uncles, Jean Guidry, Eddie Bearb, and Morris Herpin, played accordions. His family home was located in a community in Lake Charles called the High-Mont area. It's where many Cajun people from the eastern part of Acadiana re-located to work at the lake area's bustling petro-chemical industry after WWII. There was a bar on every city block in the vicinity playing Cajun music. The Lake Charles area in that time period between the 1950's through the mid 1970's was considered the hub of Cajun music in Louisiana. As matter of fact on his the last term in office, the Mayor of Lake Charles Jim Suddeth proclaimed the city "The Capitol of Cajun Music." It was a time when local radio stations like KOAK and KLCL regularly played Cajun music. Tim's maternal grandfather in particular played the accordion into his 90s and served as an inspiration for Tim. Tim recalls that it was on a trip with his high school friend, the late Steven Nelands, to visit his grandfather in the early 1980's that he first "caught the bug" to play the accordion. While on the visit, Tim saw his grandfather entertaining the fellow retirement home residents while playing the accordion. On the drive back, Steve suggested to Tim he should get an accordion and learn how to play. After some thought and a few beers he thought, "Why not"? At the age of 20, he purchased his first accordion, a cheap Hohner from Zypiens Music Center in Lake Charles. Upon hearing Tim attempting to practice around the house, Tim's father suggested he visit legendary accordion player Phil Menard, owner of a car lot in Lake Charles on Kirkman Street. Phil's business was known to many in the Cajun music circles. Phil had legends such as Lawrence Walker (who used to bring his Packard in for service and play with Phil) Iry Lejuene, Bobby Leger, Bull Leger, Louis Forman, Shorty Leblanc (considered the best to hail from Lake Charles at the time by many) and many others that would come in to visit and have jam sessions. Phil was a savvy businessman. On Saturdays, he would have Cajun music jam sessions at his office, bringing in extra customers. He would use a radio DJ for advertising. Phil was very gracious with showing Tim a few things upon his first visits and Tim would immediately go home and practice what he was shown. One important piece of advice that Phil gave Tim was that he needed a better accordion.Tim initially visited with local builder Sidney Brown, best known for being the first to build a hand-crafted accordion modeled after the old German models Monarch and Sterling. Sidney unfortunately could not accommodate Tim because Sidney had developed severe arthritis in his hands and fingers at his old age. Phil then recommended another local accordion builder named Charlie Ortego. Charlie was a cabinet builder, woodworker and had been known to build a high quality accordion. His brand name was "Master" After Tim purchased one, he would eventually attend the Phil Menard Saturday jam sessions on a regular basis and was taught more techniques and songs by other local accordion legends, such as Bobby Leger, "Bull" Leger and Pat Savant. Tim recalls a story of how one day, after leaving Phil Menard's lot, he stopped at Hokus Pokus liquor store in Lake Charles. He had his accordion in the case in the front seat of his car. When he got out of his vehicle he noticed this older gentleman sitting in his car. After he had gotten what he came for he walked out and the man was standing by his car. He asked Tim, "You got an accordion"? Tim said "Yes Sir". The man asked, "You mind if I play a number on it"? "Sure!" replied Tim. The old man began to play and Tim was very impressed. Keep in mind this is in the parking lot of a liquor store. Tim then asked him who he was and the man replied in a thick Cajun accent "Maa, I'm Doris Matte." So he proceeds to invite Tim to visit his home and jam, which Tim did on numerous occasions afterwards. On one occasion he asked Tim if he had an accordion tuned in D, which Tim said he did. Doris proceeded to ask Tim if he could borrow it, which he did for six months and played every Sunday at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. By then, those musicians were up in age and were more than eager to pass on the knowledge and culture to the younger generation. They recognized Tim's hunger to learn. What was also unique was in that time period was that there were only a few guys around Tim's age playing accordion. The others were Bobby Benoit and Homer Lejuene. There was one several years older, Pat Savant and one several years younger, Sean Saucier. Tim eventually felt confident enough to join in for a few songs on occasion with his accordion in a country music band in which a former LaGrange Senior High classmate named Terry Abshire was playing in. Terry had initially been shown a few tunes by Cajun musician, Tonice Lafleur, when learning to play. After playing together on several occasions, the two decided to try their hand at forming a Cajun band after the band Terry was playing in had broken up. The decision was to go back to their musical roots. The original line-up consisted of Tim on accordion and Terry on steel guitar. It also included former high school mates Jimmy Higginbotham on acoustic, bass and vocals, Jody Fontenot on fiddle and Terry's brother the late Savie "Toney" Abshire on drums. Both Terry and Tony could play multiple instruments, both having played in the high school band. Tim recalls only Terry had some experience playing in a group starting out, and he learned to play the steel guitar at the beginning of the band's inception. Jody had only received some classical training in school but quickly adapted to the tuning and sounds of the Cajun fiddle. Only Terry had his own amplifier and the others starting out couldn't afford the equipment. Jimmy's father Darrel, who was a legendary Cajun Hall of Fame guitar player and singer, gave Jimmy an amplifier. He also was available from time to time to give the guys a few pointers and help Jimmy with the guitar. Jimmy would later teach himself the bass. Phil Menard gave Tim an amplifier. Jody initially started out playing without one for some time before finally acquiring one. Finally, the group would decide on a band name, The Calcasieu Playboys. Tim was adept to getting bookings for the band since he had made contacts. The band started out playing small gigs. According to Jody Fontenot, "They started out a little "green"! Tim felt it was in the bands best interest to practice and play live often. Not to mention, it provided much needed supplemental income for members like Jimmy and Terry, who were married with kids by that time with young families. Eventually, the band lost drummer Toney Abshire when he enrolled in the Navy. They found a replacement in Mamou, Louisiana native Mike "Chop" Chapman. They played many pre-wedding events and receptions, several VFWs, like the one in Lake Charles (Topsy) and one located in Nederland, Tx. They consistently played in various KC Halls, such as St. Margaret's in Lake Charles and in China, TX. They had standing gigs at various clubs in the Lake Area such as Val's Lounge, Tip-Top Lounge, Triangle Club on Hwy 171, Club 90 in Iowa, Louisiana and several out of town joints such as Millie's Lounge in Evangeline and Crystal Beach, TX. They played the first three Calca-Chew Festivals, the first three CFMA Festivals, and the Acadian Festival in conjunction with Mamou Mardis Gras. The band was in high demand by this time and participated in many events, such as a telethon put on by KPLC television station in Lake Charles. At this time, they were the youngest local Cajun band in the area. They participated in a Cajun music contest held at the Acadian Village in Lafayette, garnering second place honors. They were live on radio from the Main Street Bar in Basile.The Calcasieu Playboys, along with Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, were the two bands offered a contract to play shows with the Department of Interior's U.S. Park Service in year three of the band's existence, and they appeared at the New Orleans French Market. In 1986, they were recorded on the first CFMA compilation album with the song Allons a' Lafayette, re-recorded with Bee Cormier on his Bee record label (Volume one and Volume two and recorded a 45 rpm record with one side 73 Club Special and The Louisiana Waltz). Tim never recorded on vocals, but did sing most of the D.L. Menard's early songs as well as some of the Doris Matte and Bobby Leger songs. The Calcasieu Playboys' career as a band came to a halt when Tim was accepted at then McNeese State and left the band to attend college. He majored in French and studied overseas in Belgium. He returned and earned his degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles where he would begin his career as a French teacher for the Calcasieu Parish School System after a stint working at Cities Service Refinery's Coker Unit.. Tim picked up playing music steady again as part of Norman Helms Band, in which he played guitar and vocals for four to five years. Around 1989, Tim married Annette Broussard Savoy and eventually they would raise a child, Jaala Alexis Savoy. Tim played a vital role as a French teacher, as he always infused Cajun culture and music in his students lessons. He would sometimes bring his accordion and play. He even brought other Cajun musicians to play for his students. He eventually was elevated as the French Immersion School principal in Calcasieu Parish. Through the years Tim continued to find ways to contribute and play Cajun music. Once a year he would sit in with Pete Bergeron of KRVS for live interviews and feature older recordings and talk about their history. On two occasions, he brought in Phil Menard and Bobby leger to do live interviews on the show. Through many years, even though Tim was not a member of a steady band, he played in jam sessions and on stage with some of the bands headed by the biggest names in Cajun music. This includes Phil Menard, Bobby Leger, Joe Bonsall, D.L. Menard, Jaimie Berzas, Buford Gally, Russel Bearb, Jean Savoie (another who was instrumental in teaching Tim) and Acronge Touchet. He also played with various other members who belonged in bands on stage such as Ed Gary, Bobby Michot, Darrel Higginbotham, Scotty Pousson, Louis Foreman, Tonice Lafleur, Pee Wee Broussard, Bull Leger, and Darren Wallace. Tim was involved in co-writing a song called " I will find another to love" with former band mate and good friend Jimmy Higginbotham. The song originally appeared on the acclaimed Kenneth Thibodeaux and Cajun Dance CD titled "Pour Les Danseiu" and later on Jimmy's CD " Pour Ma Famille Et Mes Amis" (For my Family and Friends). Tim also stayed instrumental in teaching the accordion to several students, such as Ned Richard and Johnathan Gauthreaux. In 1983, a former fraternity brother from his USL days named Bobby Michot convinced Tim to attend a meeting at the Main Street Bar in Basile. It was concerning a group of area Cajun musicians wanting to start a club of sorts. Founded by musician Harry Lafleur and with assistance from fellow musician Eston Bellow, the CFMA (Cajun French Music Association) was officially founded in 1984. That same year, the first CFMA festival was held in Eunice and Tim and his band, The Calcasieu Playboys, were part of the line-up. He eventually brought Phil Menard and Ivy Dugas to a meeting. They, along with Lesa Cormier went on to start the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter a few years later in 1987. In 1990, under the direction of musician Joe Bonsall, the Chapter started its Hall of Fame. In 2011, author and renowned fiddler Ron Yule was tasked with putting together a book of Hall of Famers' biographies who had previously been inducted through the years for fund raising purposes. Tim was instrumental in lending his knowledge of Cajun music and musicians. His editing and additions to their biographies and photo credits was invaluable. Ron would rely on Tim's knowledge again to lend a hand for his book "Cajun Dancehall Heyday". Currently, Tim is retired from the Calcasieu Parish School Board and still enjoys hunting ducks and deer as well as fishing. A special thanks especially to Tim for his interview for his story. Also, thank you to Mitch Granger (my older brother) who provided some background and directed me to Tim. A special thank you to former Calcasieu Playboys bandmates and CFMA Lake Charles Hall of Famer's Jimmy Higginbotham and Jody Fontenot for their contributions as well as author and multiple state champion fiddler Ron Yule for his book, "Cajun Dancehall Heyday" and the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter. Composed by Neal P Granger
.
.JPG)
