Gotta sing high, if you want to sing out over those accordions. Conventional wisdom. But some people are unconventional, one way or another. Angelas LeJeune (great-uncle to Iry, great-great-uncle to Eddie) was born, seemingly, with icy and hot in his throat. He breaks and wavers at the tops of phrases for tremendous sorrow, or sometimes, tremendous joy (check out the monkeyshines on “Perrodin Two Step”). Born near Church Point, Louisiana (whose motto “Buggy Capital U.S.A.” could apply to insects as well as carriages), LeJeune was the baby of 11 children. He apparently became an accordion virtuoso shortly after picking up the instrument at age 12.

Sorrow and joy can, of course, sit side by side. LeJeune showed mastery of this principle; Bixy Guidry, recording with Percy Babineaux, had it too, with a little less control. These records have great historical value, of course—but how rewarding to hear mastery in history. To hear one man above it all (as rich as “all” could get), interlacing ecstasy with agony intuitively. For posterity.