Lionel Cormier & The Sundown Playboys

Cajun accordionist Lionel Cormier was one of the founding members of the Sundown Playboys in 1947. Originally called the Elton Playboys after the Louisiana town where Cormier and his family lived at the time, the group recorded for the first time in 1952. The result was a 78 rpm that featured "Sundown Playboy Special" backed by "Welcome Club Waltz." Cormier and his bandmates, including Percy Fuselier and Emory LaPoint, went on to record a number of other songs. These included "Riceville Special," "Waltz of My Heart," "Cypress Inn Special," "Mermantau Special," "La Valse a Rosie Mae," "Black Bayou Special," "Last Year's Waltz," "Louisiana Gumbo," "Lonesome Waltz," and "Big Boy Bounce." The Louisiana native was the son of Arvilian Cormier, who also played the accordion. He began to join in as an accordionist at house dances and informal family get-togethers when he was 12 years old. He wed Lizzie Bass in 1929, and the couple went on to raise two boys, Gene Nelson and Lesa. Before moving his young family to Elton, Cormier settled in the Louisiana town of Gueydan, where the region's rice fields provided employment. Upon moving to Elton, he took work in a sawmill. Cormier suffered a fatal heart attack in 1971 during a benefit performance held at Lake Charles' Bamboo Club. His son, Lesa Cormier, became a drummer and his grandson, Danny Cormier, became a steel guitar player, to carry on Cormier's music with the Sundown Playboys. ~ Linda Seida