JENNINGS – Two Jeff Davis Parish men’s dream of a radio station dedicated to providing a special place to the local French-language Cajun music is a reality with the launch of Cajun Music Radio.

Marketing Director Dwayne Coots and program director Jeremy LeBlanc launched the new on-line radio Aug. 11.

The station is unique because it broadcasts almost exclusively in the Cajun French language and plays only authentic Cajun French music, according to Coots.

“There’s no zydeco, swamp pop, country…..just 100 percent traditional Cajun French music,” Coots said. “”Our missions is to try to promote Cajun music and the original Cajun music from the prairie side of the state.”

The only English listeners will hear is on the commercials and announcements, he said.

“I think of us as an audio museum with Cajun music,” Coots said. “We are about promoting Cajun music and making sure our traditions, heritage and culture never die. We want to get the music out there for people to listen to.”

The station will feature Cajun music, live speciality French programs and interviews with the legends of Cajun music past, present and future.

“We want to expose as many people as we can, particularly young people to Cajun music,” Coots said. “We are here to help keep the music alive and to do that we have to pass it on to the younger generation.”

The station is dedicated in the memory of Jerry Dugas, who was known as the “Grandfather of Cajun DJ’s.” Dugas worked for KJEF and KSIG for over 50 years and was inducted into the Cajun Music Hall of Fame in 1997. He also received a number Cajun French Music awards for his 53 years of dedication to promoting Cajun Music and helping preserve the Cajun heritage and culture.

“Jerry was a legend in Jennings and surrounding areas,” LeBlanc. “We want to dedicate the station to his memory and make sure his legacy lives on.”

The station will rebroadcast original recordings  from Dugas’ infamous Allons Danser every Saturday from 8-9 a.m.

“This is a lot of music you just don’t hear anymore,” LeBlanc said. Much of the music for the station is also from Dugas’ personal collection of old 45s, 78s, 33s records, cassettes and CDs.

“Some of these recordings were radio air play only versions, so they are priceless,” Coots added.

Paul Fruge, who hails from a long line of Cajun musicians including his father Blackie Fruge, will interview Cajun musicians during his weekly Cajun Traveler show.

The station will also rebroadcast the Rendez-vous des Cajuns Cajun Music Radio Show from the Liberty Theater in Eunice three times a week and is working to broadcast the Battle of the Bows fiddle competition from the Strand Theater in Jennings on Oct. 1.

It will also feature live broadcast from area Cajun music jam sessions and the Holy Hour at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily featuring a rosary service from the St. John the Evangelists Catholic Church in Mermentau.

The station has already garnered listeners from seven countries and has over 1,000 followers on Facebook with an average of 100 likes per day, LeBlanc said.

“A lady who owns a New Orleans-themed restaurant in Virginia sent us a Facebook message saying she loves the music and everything about it,” he said. “She was interested in starting a Cajun Radio Tuesday in her restaurant playing Cajun Music Radio for her customers.

He said the station will bring back memories for many people who grew up listening to Cajun music.

“Some of these people have moved away to other parts of the country over the years for various reasons and they just don’t get this kind of music where they live,” LeBlanc said. “A lot of people tell us this brings back memories of their childhood and growing up in Louisiana.”

LeBlanc said the target audience is anyone “from newborns to the day they are in the ground.”

The station is available on-line at CajunMusicRadio. com or via mobile apps on Google Play and the Apple Store. It also has a Facebook page.

 

Follow Doris Maricle on Twitter at twitter.com/DorisAmPress