Harrison Fontenot

Who was Harrison Fontenot?

Harrison Fontenot is a Cajun accordion player and builder, best known for his recording of "The Cajun Twist" in 1962.

Born in Point Blue, Louisiana in 1934, Fontenot got his first taste of music at the age of 16, when he regularly practiced on the accordion while his father was at work. He listening to the Grand Ole Opry as well as Aldus Roger and Austin Pitre. After forming his band, the Cajun Trio, he recorded songs during the 1960s and 1970s such as "La Cravat", "Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette", "If Teardrops Were Pennies", "I Passed in Front of your Door", "Jealous Heart", and several holiday songs. In 2001, Fontenot was designated a Master Accordion Player and Master Accordion Maker at the Mamou Cajun Music Festival. Fontenot began making accordions under the brand name Imperial.