Elias “Bobby” Leger was born on July 17th, 1916, in Esterwood, Louisiana. Later he moved to the Bosch Oil Field, then to Church Point before finally relocating to Lake Charles in 1947. Bobby came from a family of gifted musicians. As a matter of fact, he had three Aunts, seven Uncles and his father played French music. The family would host a house dance every Sunday. Around 1931, Bobby’s father taught him to play a three key accordion that he purchased for him and started playing at the house dance on Sundays when Iry Lejuene was play also . Iry would let 15 year old Bobby take his place from time to time. The Leger family quit having house parties when Iry moved to Lacassine. Bobby’s accordion hero was Lawrence Walker. He was known to pull up a chair onto the dance floor in front of the bandstand and watch every move that Lawrence would make while the dancers moved around him. After Bobby moved to Lake Charles he formed a band with neighbor Jake Bertrand and Jake’s son Robert. Bobby played every other week when not working off shore while his Uncle ”Bull” Leger played in his place. Bobby was known to have hung out at Phil Menard’s (Cajun accordion player) service station, then turned used car lot on Kirkman Street in Lake Charles, where he saw his idol Lawrence Walker and many other notable Cajun musicians such as: Hilrae Mott, Cliff Newman, Gene Savoie, Shorty LeBlanc, Louis Foreman, Doris Matte, Bull Leger, Tim Savoy, among others. Bobby played at many private parties, weddings, receptions, and benefits. One such honor was playing for Edwin Edwards 1st election as Governor of Louisiana. He played the Oberlin Mardis Gras for 23 years, Shamrock Club in Lake Charles for 18 years, Lakeshore Club in Lake Arthur, Club 90, Triangle Club, OST in Rayne, B.O.’s Sparkle in Texas, Lloyds Lounge in Lake Charles, among many other clubs and venues. Bobby recorded at least 8 records or more, including ”Lost Love Waltz”, “Trouble Two Step”, and “Lake Charles Playboy’s Waltz”. Throughout the 1990’s, Bobby’s career was still going strong, playing with band members Blackie Fruge on fiddle, Mike Fruge on steel, Ron Fruge on vocals, John Richard on acoustic guitar ,Leroy Leger (Bobby’s son)on drums, and Ganey Arsement on bass. Bobby was a part of a group of older musicians that had an influence on younger musicians growing up in the Lake Charles and surrounding area, such as Chris Miller, Tim Savoy, and Shawn Saucier. In 1990, he was inducted into the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter’s Cajun Music Hall of Fame and eventually into the CFMA National Hall of Fame in Eunice. Bobby passed away in 2008. Composed by Neal P Granger
Lake Charles Playboys L-R: Orsy Vanicor, Arthur Leger, Bobby, Ronald Leger, and J.U. Fruge