Harry Henry Choates
Noted musician Harry Henry Choates, whose career was shortened by an early death, was born in Louisiana in 1922. During the 1930s, he moved with his mother to Port Arthur, where as a child he began to develop and shape his gift of music. Known for playing the fiddle and singing in French and English, Choates also played the accordion, acoustic guitar and steel guitar.
Choates helped raise Cajun music to national prominence during the 1940s. While also performing jazz, blues and country, he was best known for merging traditional Cajun music with western swing. In 1946, He organized a band named the Melody Boys and recorded "Jole Blon," rewriting a traditional Cajun waltz, "Jolie Blone." "Jole Blon" became a regional favorite and received extensive airplay nationwide. It is still considered his enduring classic. Choates and the Melody Boys recorded dozens of other songs in the next several years and, partly due to Choates' famed, high-energy performances, became widely known.
Unfortunately, difficulties in Choates' personal life sometimes overshadowed his musical talent. He often ignored musician contracts, which led to cancellation of bookings and ultimately the disbanding of the Melody Boys. He also battled alcoholism and was estranged from his wife, Helen, with whom he had two children. Choates moved to Austin by the early
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Marker is property of the State of Texas
Lower Plaque
Sponsored by
Port Arthur Historical Society
Jerry J. Bellot
Jeff Hayes
Tim Knight
Huey P. Meaux
Sam Monroe
Erected 2007 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14022.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is July 17, 1951.
Location. 29° 54.819′ N, 93° 55.651′ W. Marker is in Port Arthur, Texas, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and 25th Street, on the right when traveling west on Ninth Avenue. Location is Calvary Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Port Arthur TX 77640, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Hughen School (approx. ¼ mile away); Janis Lyn Joplin (approx. 0.8 miles away); Community Retirement Home (approx. 1.6 miles away);
Dec. 26, 1922
July 17, 1951
Parrain de la Musique Cajun
The Godfather of Cajun Music
More about this marker. Located in the Calvary Cemetery, Port Arthur, TX.
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia Article on Harry Choates. (Submitted on June 26, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.)
2. You Tube Video of Jole Blon by Harry Choates. Jole Blon is the unofficial "National Anthem" of Cajun music. (Submitted on June 26, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.)
3. Video showing marker. (Submitted on June 26, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 26, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.
