Above, here is the man himself , Roy Boyer, on the fiddle.  In his barber shop as usual, my main Old Mines, MO fiddle guru, he was as likely to tell you a joke as he was to teach you a tune.  But it was always fun getting there.  Roy's style was French Creole, but he also tended to jump off into country tunes as well.  He was pretty versatile. People always ask me why I choke up so far on my bow...well, look at Roy's bowing hand and you will see why.

French Creole Fiddle Styles

Usually when people think of "Creole Fiddle" they normally jump to African style Creole fiddling.  And while I don't blame them, it is my hope to expand the idea that...or should I say...reintroduce...the fact that there is more than one style of Creole fiddling still left in what was the old territory of Louisiana.  While I am a practitioner of African Creole fiddling, I am also very much so, a European French Creole style fiddler.  I first learned to play fiddle from French Creoles in Missouri such as Roy Boyer and Charlie Pashia.  Their style represented an older form, one that had not only French designs, but infusions of Celtic bowing and Metis rhythms.  Later on, when I moved to Louisiana, I met great fiddlers such as Canray Fontenot, Calvin Carriere, Faren Serrette, Black Allemand and then began to learn this other unique "Creole" style as well.  Inside it is also fused Cajun influences as well. 

I have also had the chance recently to study with one of the greatest Cajun fiddlers of all time, Hadley J. Castille.  A master of the Cajun swing style, his blues infused fiddling is not only amazing but captivating in a way this is almost indescribable.  He is an absolute treasure and shows that the art form of "Cajun fiddling" can be taken to a level matching classical and jazz.  Below, as I have time I hope to post some pictures of fiddlers with whom I've studied or performed with.  And I will designate in which style they belong.