Floyd LeBlanc was born on September 17, 1924, in Mermentau, Louisiana to parents Lessin and Merillia LeBlanc. Lessin played the accordion and fiddle while Merillia played rhythm guitar and sang. In the early 1930’s, the family moved to Cypress Point. Floyd and his older brother Steve made their own homemade instruments from cigar boxes, screen wire, and boards because their parents couldn’t afford real instruments to buy for them. Eventually, as the boys showed continued interest in playing, their parents bought them a fiddle for five dollars and a guitar for four. Floyd was interested in the fiddle and was influenced by his father’s playing and also by Hackberry Rambler’s fiddler Luderin Darbone, who were popular in the area at the time. The brothers, while in their teens, began playing local house and barn dances. During the outbreak of WWII, they both joined the military and continued to play music while serving their country. While stationed in San Antonio, Floyd met Virgil Bozeman, and they started a band called the Oklahoma Tornadoes, playing both French and country music. They played the the Highway 90 Strip from New Orleans to Houston, and as far north as Oklahoma. In 1946/47, Floyd met legendary accordionist Iry Lejuene, who was at a nearby club in New Orleans. They had several recordings together including “Love Bridge Waltz” and “Evangeline Special”. This turned out to be a major event in Cajun music as the public love with Iry’s playing, which led to the effort to bring the accordion back into Cajun recordings and to prominence since the early 1930’s. In 1947, Floyd, Iry, and Virgil went to Nashville to try to make it big, but Iry returned after a few weeks and Floyd continued playing with several bands for several years before returning to SW Louisiana. Floyd then formed the Melody Boys and played on the Silver Strip east of Sulphur at the Manhattan Club. He settled in Lake Charles and in 1950, he quit playing for awhile, going into private business, opening Floyd’s Net Shop on Fontenot Road (Gulf Highway) in Lake Charles. He repaired shrimp and fishing nets, fished commercially, and worked as a carpenter. Floyd’s talent was well known locally and offers continued for him to return to playing music. By the mid 50’s he relented and began playing with Sidney Brown and The Traveler Playboys, Pineywoods Playboys with Oday Boudreaux, Orange Playboys, Lake Charles Playboys, Louisiana Ramblers, and the Lake Charles Ramblers. In the 1960’s, he played at clubs and local shows with bands featuring Doris Matte, Bobby Leger, Robert Bertrand, Jo-el Sonnier, and Joe Bonsall. He played at KIKS radio station in Sulphur, and KPLC -TV in Lake Charles “Saturday Night Down South”, the brainchild of promoter Buddy Paul (Buddy Seapaugh), a musician from the Louisiana Hayride. Floyd went on to play on multiple recordings at Opera, Khourey, O.T. and JD Miller’s Flyright label. Floyd was a major contributor to Cajun music in the Lake Area. Floyd's recorded output includes both Cajun and country vocals and style while appearing on the Opera, OT, and Cajun Classic labels. Prior to his death he recorded numerous tunes for an unreleased LP with Sulphur-based Oday Boudreaux and the Louisiana Playboys. Known group members were Ernest Benoit (guitar), Floyd on fiddle, Ray Thibodeaux (drums) or Cliff Newman (drums), Riley Clark (guitar), and Pee Wee Lyons (steel). The group also played Saturday morning slots on KIKS radio in Sulphur besides local dances. He passed away on November 8, 1975, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was inducted into the newly formed CFMA Lake Charles Chapter’s Cajun Music Hall of Fame in 1990 as a charter member. Thanks to the contributions of the Lake Charles American Press archives, Ron Yule, and the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter for his story. Composed by Neal P Granger
