Mr. Ernest Castille was born on June 30, 1927 in Church Point, Louisiana. He was inspired to play Cajun music by the great accordion player Alphee Bergeron, a member of the CFMA National Cajun Music Hall of Fame in Eunice, Louisiana and founding member of the group, The Veteran Playboys in 1947 ( Group named because they were all returning WWll vets) which Ernest joined. He played rhythm guitar and the drums while Alphee played accordion, Joe Melancon on fiddle, and Shirley Bergeron also on guitar. He taught National Cajun Hall of Fame’r Shirley Ray Bergeron (son of Alphee) to play guitar and music. In Church Point, Ernest lived in close vicinity to many Cajun musicians such as Angelas Lejuene and Iry Lejuene. The Playboys had began to make a big name for themselves when after three years, Ernest left the group. Through the years he would continue to play with other bands featuring big name Cajun musicians such as Lee Sonnier, Lawrence Walker, Papa Cairo, Eddie Bearb, Doc Guidry, Happy Fats, among others. He played continuously for 12 years from Port Arthur, Texas to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in various clubs and dancehalls such as Rodair Club in Port Arthur, Texas; Broken Mirror, Sulphur; Bloody Bucket Club in Port Barre; Silver Slipper Club, Pecaniere; Evangeline Club and Snook’s in Ville Platte; among other’s throughout Southwest Louisiana and the Acadiana region. In 1949, he married Gertrude Miller Castille and the two, along with their 5 children, Ron, Tim, Jennifer, Chris, and Mark .Eventually moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1965. In 1966, they owned and operated AOK Motor Parts on Kirkman Street for many years as a family run operation until his retirement. After stepping away from performing in clubs for years to help raise his family and run his business, Ernest would eventually pick up his guitar and resumed playing again. Ernest was a charter member of the newly formed Cajun French Music Association's Lake Charles Chapter in 1987 , and was a very active member. In his older years he particularly enjoyed entertaining the elderly in nursing homes. Mr. Castille was inducted into the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter’s Cajun Music Hall of Fame in 2003. A tribute to a wonderful man. *Dedicated to the Castille family* Composed by Neal P Granger
