August Broussard was born in Westlake, Louisiana, on August 3, 1946, to parents Arthur Broussard and Zenia Mires Broussard. In his early years he was inspired playing the accordion at house parties with the encouragement from his uncles John, Pierre, and Gabe Broussard around the Lake Arthur area. He was also influenced by a cousin from Lafayette, Leroy Broussard. Following his high school graduation from Iowa High School in Iowa, Louisiana in 1966, August started off playing at house parties, eventually beginning his professional career by the late 1960's. With a career spanning over 50 years, August played guitar as well as the accordion and played with notable groups including Tan Benoit's Travelers Playboys on accordion as Tan's initial replacement due to an illness, before staying on permanent with the group until the early 1970's. In the early 1970's August formed his own band, the Calcasieu Ramblers, although he played guitar with John Oliver's Louisiana Ramblers, Bobby Leger's Lake Charles Playboys, and the Hicks Wagon Wheel Ramblers, for brief periods. The Calcasieu Ramblers included Wilbert Daigle on fiddle, Albert Miller on drums, Atlas Fruge on steel guitar, and Howard Hebert on guitar. August during that period came to learn the fiddle, harmonica, steel guitar, and the mandolin as well. Some of the clubs they played regularly were in the Lake Charles area the such as Manuel's Bar, Shamrock Club, Club 90, the Cypress Inn, and the Country Club in Vinton. Throughout his career, August wrote and recorded songs, all of which were included on three 45 rpm records, two eight-track tapes, and two cassette tapes. By the mid 1970's the group recorded "The Waltz of Sonny's Lounge"/ "Johnny's Two Step" on the Buck label at C.E. Diel's studio in Jennings. In 1980 the Calcasieu Ramblers cut one cassette on Joe Fontenot's upstart Swampland label. In 1981 he recorded two eight tracks for Howard Hebert's Howard Productions. players at that time included August on accordion and vocals, Leo Abshire on fiddle, Bonnie Broussard on guitar, and Keith Sonnier on drums. In the 1990's August played with Lesa Cormier and the Sundown Playboys at CFMA functions, local and regional restaurants, the San Antonio Folklife Festival, Liberty Theater in Eunice, and other venues around southwest Louisiana. He recorded on several CDs with that group around 2000. During this period he also played with Austin Jones and Lagniappe, Cliff Hoffpauir and Louisiana Country, and Leo Abshire and his Old Tymers Band. In 2004, August resurrected his Calcasieu Ramblers with August on accordion, Henry Hample on fiddle, Dudley Hebert on guitar, Kevin Breaux on drums, and Mervin Faul on steel guitar. The names of the other songs that August wrote and performed were “Calcasieu Ramblers Special “, “911”, “Alida Special “, “Lake Arthur Willow”, “Back Home Memories “, “D.J. Special “, Harris’s Two Step”, “I’ll Never Let You Go “, “ I Dreamed of Momma and Daddy last night”, and “Norma Jean”. He also co-wrote “If You Ever Want to Come Back Home” with Robert LaCombe. August was very dedicated to the Cajun music and culture in that he gave music lessons to many students in a span of 30 years. He made himself available to speak to children at local schools about the Cajun culture and played many benefit dances for various causes, including for handicapped students in Calcasieu Parish. August loved to play Cajun music and promote his Cajun heritage and culture as mush as he could. In 1995 August was inducted into the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was awarded the CFMA’s Living Legend Award and in 2013 he received the Heritage Award. In 2014, he was inducted into the CFMA National Hall of Fame in Eunice, Louisiana. Special thanks to those sources that contributed to this biography: Ron Yule, Eunice News, Lake Charles American Press, Wade Falcon, Keith Sonnier, and April Manuel Keill. Dedicated to the family of the late August Broussard. Composed by Neal P Granger
