Biography

The son of influential Cajun accordionist and songwriter Iry LeJeune, Eddie LeJuene was only five years old when his father was killed in a tragic automobile accident. Although most of his knowledge of his father's music came from old 78 rpm records, LeJeune has successfully continued his family' s great musical heritage. According to Time Out magazine, "It would be no exaggeration to say that Eddie LeJeune is the finest Cajun accordionist alive." A native of Ardoin Cove, a small town near Lacassine, LA, LeJeune retains few memories of his father. In the liner notes to his 1998 album, It 's In The Blood, he recalls "sitting on his lap and doing a few things, like him riding his bicycle on a cloudy day". Much of what he's learned about his father came from his maternal grandmother, Adelina Blanchard, an accordion player who regaled him with stories as a youngster. Picking up the accordion at the age of six, LeJeune felt a natural affinity for the instrument. Within two years, he was proficient enough to become a regular performer at family gatherings, barbecues and house dances. LeJeune has continued to focus on the traditional styles of Cajun music. While his debut album included four original tunes, the remainder of the album was comprised of songs by Cajun originators Lawrence Walker, Joe Falcon and his father and faithful arrangements of traditional tunes. Jeune was accompanied on It's In The Blood" by his band, The Morse Playboys featuring fiddler Lionel Leleux and guitarist Hubert Maitre. In 1992, LeJeune joined with Cajun guitarist/vocalist D.L. Menard and fiddler Ken Smith to record a trio album, Le Trio Cadien. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi