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Lionel Cormier

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Lionel Cormier

Birth
Death
5 Jun 1971 (aged 58)
Burial
Elton, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, USA Add to Map
Plot
Sec C Row 31
Memorial ID
View Source
CORMIER, LIONEL 20-Sep-1929 Acadia Marriage Lic # 14389 BASS, LIZZIE
Father of Lesa and Gene
Siblings: Edley Cormier of Lake Charles, Leonie (Cormier) Trahan. Five step-brothers: Aluis, Louis Agesson, Floyd & Wedley LeJeune of Jennings, Garvin LeJeune of Oakdale. two step-sisters: Mrs. Philip (Esther LeJeune) Bergeron & Mrs. Joe (Elrena LeJeune) Courville of Jennings.

Band Leader for the Sundown Playboys

Biography by Linda Seida
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.

Arvilian played the accordion & taught his son Lionel how to play. Arvilian's child with former marriage: Lionel (Musician). He is in Cajun Hall of Fame in The Depot Museum in Eunice, La. His son, Lesa, is also in Musician's Hall of Fame in Depot Museum.

Sec C ROW 31 (next to Drive at North Fence)
CORMIER, LIONEL 20-Sep-1929 Acadia Marriage Lic # 14389 BASS, LIZZIE
Father of Lesa and Gene
Siblings: Edley Cormier of Lake Charles, Leonie (Cormier) Trahan. Five step-brothers: Aluis, Louis Agesson, Floyd & Wedley LeJeune of Jennings, Garvin LeJeune of Oakdale. two step-sisters: Mrs. Philip (Esther LeJeune) Bergeron & Mrs. Joe (Elrena LeJeune) Courville of Jennings.

Band Leader for the Sundown Playboys

Biography by Linda Seida
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.

Arvilian played the accordion & taught his son Lionel how to play. Arvilian's child with former marriage: Lionel (Musician). He is in Cajun Hall of Fame in The Depot Museum in Eunice, La. His son, Lesa, is also in Musician's Hall of Fame in Depot Museum.

Sec C ROW 31 (next to Drive at North Fence)


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