Fiddle King of Cajun Swing (CD - 1982)

Personnel includes: Harry Choates (fiddle, vocals), Eddie Pursley (guitar), Ron Ray "Pee Wee" Lyons, Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez (steel guitar), Joe Manuel (banjo, vocals), Johnny Mae Smirle Manuel (piano), B.D. Williams (bass), Amos Como (drums), Jimmy Foster & His Swingers.

Reissue producer: Chris Strachwitz.

Recorded at Gold Star Studios, Houston, Texas between 1946 and 1950. Includes liner notes by Tim Knight.

FIDDLE KING OF CAJUN SWING is a collection of singles/b-sides that Harry Choates recorded for the Gold Star and Cajun Classics labels.

Personnel: Harry Choates (vocals, violin, fiddle); Johnnie Mae Smirle (vocals, piano); Ron Ray Lyons (guitar, steel guitar); Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez, Eddie Pursley (guitar); Cairo Lamperez Lamperez (steel guitar); Joe Manuel (banjo); Amos Como (drums).

Liner Note Author: Tim Knight.

Recording information: Gold Star Recording Studios, Houston, TX (1946-1950).

Editor: Chris Strachwitz.

Unknown Contributor Roles: George Morrow ; Jim Foster.

Fiddle King of Cajun Swing is a 26-track collection featuring most of Harry Choates' finest recordings. All of the material on this compilation was recorded for Gold Star Records between 1946 and 1950. Though his biggest hit, "Jole Blon," is inexplicably missing, the music on this disc demonstrates Choates talent for blurring the lines between Western Swing and Cajun music. It's an excellent introduction to one of the finest Cajun fiddlers of the '40s and '50s. ~ Thom Owens minimize