Abe Manuel was born in 1926 in Basile, Louisiana. He learned guitar when he was eight years old and later the fiddle. He enjoyed a stellar career in both Cajun and country music. Abe grew up playing Cajun music with his family and friends around Basile and Oberlin early on and played with Delmer Sonnier in 1938. In the early 1940’s, he played with Leo Soileau at the Avalon Club in Basile and then played in various bands including such musicians as Chuck Guillory, Jimmie Newman, Harry Choates, among others. Abe, along with his talented brother Joe briefly formed the Rockola Playboys in 1949. They played with the legendary Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Jim Reeves and Carl Smith, as well as the Louisiana Hayride for many years as a sideman. They also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. In 1953, he played with Jelly Elliot on KALB, Alexandria, and in 1954 after marrying Dorothy Mae “Dottie” Vincent, he began his own band, Abe Manuel and the Louisiana Hillbillies which included Bradley Stutes, Amos Comeaux, Wily Barkdull, and Dottie (herself raised with a musical family). During that period, they recorded several songs for J.D. Miller in Crowley. Abe recorded with numerous acts as well as on his own: “Basile Waltz”, “Jolie Blon”, “Port Arthur Waltz”, and “Allons a Lafayette “with Harry Choates in 1946 were just a few. Dottie, who was born in 1935 in Creole, was also known as “Tit Cajun Belle”, recorded several songs as Dot Vincent. She recorded “La Valse de Cajun” and “Amour, Amour” at Goldband Studio’s in Lake Charles. In 1957, while Abe was working as a bridge tender in Grand Chenier in Cameron Parish, a tidal wave from Hurricane Audrey ripped through their home and caused some agonizing moments. With the house afloat and water rising they cut a hole in the roof and escaped to sit and wait for rescue. After 36 hours of separation and worry, Abe, Dottie and the children were re-united. Sadly, over 25 of their relatives perished. In the early 1960’s, Abe and Dottie joined Rufus Thibodeaux, Carrol Broussard, and others and recorded their famous “Tribute to Harry Choates” at J.D. Millers studio. Abe provided vocals with Rufus providing the Cajun fiddling. Abe appeared on KPLC TV on Saturday Night Downtown South shows and local honky rinks in the Lake Charles area like Moulin Rouge, Bamboo Club, and the Silver Star. In the 1970’s, Abe (fiddle), Dottie (guitar), along with their talented sons Abe Jr. (piano and vocals and Little Joe (lead guitar), began performing as The Manuel Family Band at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Lake Charles and Houston. In the 1980’ and 1990’s the family band recorded on two projects, “Cajun Fire”, and “Bon Ton Roulee’ “after the Manuel’s eventually decided to move to the Nashville area in the town of Milton, to start a restaurant and country store, which lasted 13 years. The restaurant provided a backdrop for the family band along with featuring Cajun and country music plus Louisiana cuisine. Dottie would record on two cuts with Merl Haggard. Abe and Dottie’s sons would eventually go on their own and each would carve out an impressive musical resume. Joe played with Jimmy C. Newman, T.G. Shepherd, Ricky Skaggs, Lynn Anderson to name a few. Joe became Conway Twitty’s Son-In -Law. Abe Jr., besides playing piano, picked up the fiddle in 1978 and played with artist such as Mickey Gilley, Bob and Ed Curtis, Jimmy C Newman (with Joe) in 1992 with Merle Haggard (with Joe). Joe has been a member of George Strait’s Ace in the Hole Band since 2005 to the present. Abe Jr. eventually moved back to southwest Louisiana from Milton, Tennessee and played with Moe-D and other local groups. Abe Sr. and Dottie were both inducted into the Lake Charles Chapter’s Cajun Music Hall of Fame in 2011. Abe passed away in 2003. Material from excerpts of Ron Yules book: Louisiana Fiddlers and CFMA Lake Charles. Compiled by Neal P Granger
