LEO ABSHIRE 1933-2005

Cajun fiddle legend Leo Abshire  passed away peacefully on Tuesday 31 May 2005. I first met him when he came to England in 1994 with Eddie LeJeune and the Morse Playboys. He became a personal friend, together with his wife Zula, and we played music together on many occasions, both here in England and in his home state of Louisiana. With his band The Ole Tymers he was in great demand in Louisiana, playing several nights a week. He died after a long battle with cancer and is truly missed by his family and his many friends.                   Phil Underwood, June 2005

The Morse Playboys in England, 1998

CLICK HERE for an audio clip of Leo playing L'Anse Aux Paille Two Step with the Ole Tymers from the Ole Tymers CD ACD 0128-2 courtesy Acadiana Records, Eunice, La (337) 457 1786.

The clip is in  mp3 format - you will need a free player like Winamp

Leo and Phil at Randols, Lafayette, September 2004 (Photo: Dancin' Donna)

Leo, Zula, Robbie and Phil at Aldus Roger's 83rd birthday, Scott, La

CLICK HERE to visit Mr Leo's web site

CLICK HERE to visit Emile Waagenaar's photo site which includes wonderful photos of Leo, Eddie and other Cajun musicians

 

Tributes from friends and fans:

Please email your tributes to me

and I will publish them on this page

Hi Cajun Friends near and far, please forgive this late announcemment,
especially if you have already heard.  I have just returned from a Cuban
holiday to the news that Leo Abshire passed away around 1st June.  As many
of you know he had been suffering for several years with cancer although he
continued player fiddle with The Old Timers right up until the end.  He was
a wonderful man, musician, friend.  He spent time with everyone who showed
any interest in cajun music, culture.  He was a great ambassador for the
cajun people.  He toured many times in the UK with Eddie LeJeune over many
years.  He worked with children running workshops, gigs, encouraging them to
continue this wonderful traditional.  He showed many how to make fiddles.
He was a giver in all respects.  If you knew him you were privileged to have
made a friend.  Please remember Zula his wife in your prayers.

Suzie (Tete Rouge) UK

The following biography extract courtesy www.billybop.be please visit the site for the full text

Abshire, Leo

Leo Abshire was born on July 27, 1933 to Oza LeBlanc and Clomaire Abshire in Kaplan, Louisiana and resides in Gueydan, LA. He married Rosa Broussard (now deceased) on November 22, 1952. Eight (8) children were born from this union; Patricia, Romana, Leo Jr., Jeremy (deceased), Roxanne, Kevin, Anita and Keith (deceased). He .. married .. Zula Foster, who has two daughters; Brenda, (Mrs. Paul Gerald Hebert) and Schalacey.

His love for music started at the age of seven... At the beginning of his career he played and recorded with the famous late Mr. Joe Bonsall (a cherished friend) for twenty years. His first recording.. was with August Broussard and The Calcasieu Ramblers. He recorded with John Oliver and Dillard Duplechian on Gold Band Records in Lake Charles. He has played with D.L. Menard, Eddie LeJeune (son of the late Ira LeJeune); the late Aldus Roger and The Lafayette Playboys, the late Milton Adams, Joe Simon, Horace Trahan and The Fa-Tras Cajun Show Band...

He.. had the honor to perform for the Queen of England, Princess DI, President Clinton, has played at Carnagie Hall, played for the opening ceremonies at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. In 1998 he spent a month touring England, Austria, Slovenia, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, Wales and Italy, with Eddie LeJeune and The Morse Playboys...

The Cajun French Music Association, Lake Charles Chapter, paid tribute to him by inducting him into the "CFMA Hall of Fame” on November 8, 1998...

He has won many first place awards and trophies in fiddle contests...
The “Acadian Museum of Erath”, an Acadian Heritage & Culture Foundation, Inc., inducted him in “THE ORDER OF LIVING LEGENDS” on February 24, 2001..

His latest and greatest tribute was helping Phil Underwood from London, England do a benefit on May 13, 2001 at Cecil Sharp House, London, England for the late accordion player, “Eddie LeJeune”, who died January 9, 2001. Leo and Eddie grew up together, traveled and played music together and were best of friends for many years..

for the full text please visit  www.billybop.be