The annual Lake Charles Chapter Hall of Fame was held Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the CFMA Building on Prien Lake Road.  There was a total of 9 inductees and the attendance was impressive.  We congratulate all these individuals for their continuing support of Cajun music and we thank them for sharing their talent with all of us. 

The Hall of Fame Chairman, Ms. Renee Daigle, once again did a tremendous job putting this all together.  To everyone who helped make this such a success, thank you.  To our great gumbo cooks, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Adam Landry, thank you for a job well done.  To Hillary and Elvina Daigle, Jessie Arabie, Earl and Julie Young, and everyone else, thanks for giving your time and efforts to make this a success.  It takes all of us working together to do what we do best: have great music, great food, and great friends.

Special thanks to our ice cream man, Earl Wright, and his wife Cheryl, for giving us their ice cream machine, supplies, and hours it took to man the Sweet Shop.  Thank you to everyone who made and brought cakes, cookies, and other goodies for the Sweet Shop. 

Thank you to Ron Miller for supplying the sound equipment and to our bands, Ellis Vanicor and the Lacassine Playboys and Mr. Red Saltzman for donating their talent, time, and instruments to make this event possible.  Rene' Daigle and her crew did a great job in cleaning the hall and decorating it for this very special event.  All of you did a great job and CFMA is very fortunate to have you all as members.  Thanks again to everyone.

The Lake Charles Chapter does have our Hall of Fame books, which include photographs and write ups on all those inducted into the Lake Charles Chapter Hall of Fame.  If you are interested in any information or would like to obtain a copy of our book, please contact Robert Hebert at 337-598-4149 or 337-496-0374 for more information.

There are way too many people involved to name each and every one but again, thank you to all who worked and to all who furnished sweets for the sweet shop. A special thank you to our Miss Cajun Music queens who worked the Sweet Shop for us.

We had 9 inductees into the Lake Charles Chapter's Hall of Fame for 2011.  To each of them and their families, we say a very big thank you for your love and dedication to Cajun music and the culture. Inductees were:

Jimmy Aguillard, son of Junice Richard and Emile Aguillard, currently plays with the Lacassine Playboys.

Lee Begnaud, born in Lafayette to Martha Patin and Walter Begnaud.  He has played with the Medicate Playboys at South Cameron Hospital and with Phil Menard and his Cajun Friends Band.

Aldas "A.J." Joseph Broussard,  a Lake Charles native and son of Guy Joseph and Dula Thibodeaux.  He played with the Red Saltzman and the Rambling Cajuns.

Orgy Joseph Broussard, a native of Acadia Parish and the son of Leola Steward and Hepolite Broussard.  He is a drummer and played with the Lake Charles Buccaneer Band.

Robert J. Buller, is the son of Harold and Cynthia Perry Buller and plays the bass guitar.  He began playing at the age of 15 and has made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry stage and performances with Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins and other country stars.

Abe Manuel Sr. was born in the Basile area.  In the 1970's the band he played with began to include his sons, Joe and Abe Jr., and they played Shakey's Pizza Parlors in the area.  He did numerous recordings including two CDs with the Manuel Family Band.

Dottie Vincent Manuel, a Creole native and daughter of Jules and Allie Duhon Vincent, learned the guitar at an early age from her father.  She is also known as the "Cajun Belle" and recorded "La Valse de Cajun".

Belton J. Thibodeaux, Jr., was born in 1950 to Belton, Sr., and Tressie Richard Thibodeaux of Lake Charles.  By the age of 15, he was playing lead guitar in local garage bands.  In 1990 he formed and led his first full Cajun band, Calcasieu Cajun Rhythm with Eric O'Blanc.  As a songwriter and vocalist he recorded "Les Deux pas a Nonc john" and several others.

Kaleb Trahan, son of Katie and Keith Trahan, is from Little Chenier.  He has played the accordion for 17 years.  He has been with the Lacassine Playboys for seven years.  Appearances on other CDs include his own, "Kaleb Trahan - Next Generation" and "D.I.'s Cajun jammers."

Applications for the Lake Charles CFMA Hall of Fame are now being taken.  The number of inductees are limited so if you are interested, please contact Renee Daigle at 337-802-4077 for more information.