More Info on Harry ChoatesSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Harry Choates| image = Harry Choates.jpg| alt =| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Jean Batiste Fuselier| alias =| birth_date = birth date|1922|12|26| death_date = death date and age|1951|07|17|1922|12|26| origin = Rayne, Louisiana or New Iberia, Louisiana | instrument = Fiddle | genre = Cajun music|Cajun | occupation = Musician , Fiddler | associated_acts = The Melody Boys| website = Harry Choates (December 26, 1922, Rayne, Louisiana or New Iberia, Louisiana - July 17, 1951, Austin, Texas ) was an American Cajun music fiddler.
Choates's place of birth is disputed. He moved to Port Arthur, Texas in the 1930s, and received little schooling, instead spending time in local bars listening to music on the jukebox . By age 12 he started playing fiddle for spare change in barber shops. He gained early professional experience playing in the bands of Leo Soileau and Leroy LeBlanc , then split off to form his own group called the MelodyBoys in 1946. His 1946 song "Jole Blonde", a top 10 hit for Choates, was recorded by country music|country singer Moon Mullican and became a major hit, but Choates had waived his rights to the song and was never compensated for the song's success.
Choates remained with the MelodyBoys from 1946 to 1951, recording for Gold Star Records in 1946-47. The MelodyBoys disbanded over Choates's chronic problems with alcoholism and his frequent missed concert dates, and shortly after the dissolution he played with Jesse James & His Gang on KTBC radio. In the middle of the year, Choates was found to be in contempt of court for failing to pay his support payments for his children. He spent three days in prison, at which time he began hitting his head against the bars of his jail cell, eventually knocking himself into a coma . The condition persisted for several days before Choates died on July 17, 1951.
References
Craig Harris, Allmusic|class=artist|id=p721/biography|pure_url=yes Harry Choates at Allmusic
See also
History of Cajun Music
List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
Persondata | NAME = Choates, Harry | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = December 26, 1922 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = July 17, 1951 | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Choates, Harry Category:1922 births Category:1951 deaths Category:Cajun people Category:American fiddlers Category:Musicians from Louisiana Category:Cajun fiddlers Category:Cajun musicians Category:Gold Star Records artists Category:Starday Records artists
