Rufus Thibodeaux, legendary Cajun musician, dies at 71

[deb...@comcast.net]

Friends remember legendary Cajun musician
Ridge native Rufus Thibodeaux dies at 71.

Herman Fuselier
hfus...@theadvertiser.com

Rufus Thibodeaux, a renowned Cajun fiddler who performed at the Grand
Ole Opry with country music legend Jimmy C. Newman, died Friday at a
nursing home in Nashville, Tenn. According to Newman, Thibodeaux, 71,
died in his sleep at about 4 a.m.

A native of Ridge who was born in 1934, Thibodeaux performed with a
variety of stars, from western swing pioneer Bob Wills to rocker Neil
Young to country favorites Lefty Frizzell, Jim Reeves, George Jones and
Hank Williams Jr.

"He was the greatest Cajun fiddler that ever lived and one of the
greatest country fiddlers," said Newman, a Mamou native and member of
the Grand Ole Opry since 1956. "He had talent like no one else and just
excelled at that talent.

"I first heard him play at a little club outside of Rayne and he just
knocked me out. I knew I had to have him play with me. He was so
instrumental in my career."

In 1952, Thibodeaux played on Newman's first national hit, "Darling,"
which later became known as "Cry, Cry Darling." In 1970, he played with
Newman on "Lache Pas la Patate," the first song in Cajun French to
become a gold record.

Locally, Thibodeaux recorded numerous hits with Johnnie Allan, Rod
Bernard, Zachary Richard, Tony Thibodeaux and others. David Rachou of
La Louisianne Records of Lafayette, where Thibodeaux often recorded,
described him as a flawless professional.

"He was the most talented fiddle player I ever worked with," Rachou
said. "The easiest way to tell was his knowledge of music with the lack
of any music education.

"To this day, I have never had anyone who could come in the studio and
lay three harmonies down. He'd ask me, 'Which one do you want first?'
You have to know what you're doing to do that.

"He wasn't about being flashy. He didn't like that. But he could play
with the best of them.

"He had such an ear. He could hear something and tell you if it was out
of tune. He was amazing."

Thibodeaux recorded the heralded "Cajun Born" album with Johnnie Allan,
Warren Storm and Clint West. Allan said Thibodeaux's talents shined
throughout the project.

"He just took the reins," said Allan. "He produced the whole thing and
told everybody what they had to do. He was a great musician."

"He and I were very close friends for a long time," Allan said. "He
always had a good sense of humor.

"I talked to him about a week and a half ago, and he wasn't feeling
that great."

Thibodeaux suffered from severe diabetes and had a leg amputated six
years ago. He moved from Lafayette to Nashville five years ago to be
closer to family there.

A memorial service is tentatively planned for next week in Nashville.

Allan said Thibodeaux will always be remembered for his musicianship
and friendship.

"He had many friends. I went to visit him a while back and I asked him
'Roof, if you had to do it again, would you do the same thing?'

"He said, 'Cher, twice as fast.' "