User:Ngran1

Amar Ti-Frere DeVillier was born in 1909 and raised on a farm in the community known as Lanse Maigre, a rural area between Mamou and Eunice Louisiana. As a young teen he learned to play the accordion from his brother in law Angelas Manuel and Bois Sec Ardoin of Duralde. He and fellow band members Dennis Mcgee, Isom Fontenot, Eston Bellow, Joseph “Cabri” Maniere, Ed and Bee Deshotels, Preston Manuel and Harry Lafleur at times would play various clubs, bars, dance halls, and many bals de maison from 1930’s to 1950’s in the Acadian prairie area. In 1952 he and his band named The Louisiana Jambileers recorded singles titled “The Durald Two Step” and The Shoe-Pick Waltz for Khoury Records. These songs are featured on several compilation albums. Amar and Dennis McGee were known to co-write songs, most notably “La Valse de Lanse Maigre” later renamed “Kathleen’s Waltz” by Sady Courville. Amar also collaborated to record with Isom Fontenot on such tunes as “The Crowley Two-Step” and “Valse De La Mirere’”. Amar competed in the large Acadiana festivals in solo accordion and in band competition often having high place finishes. He competed against the likes of Lawrence Walker, Ambroise Thibodeaux, Alpha Bergeron, Cyprien Landreneau, Angelas Lejuene, Tan Benoit, etc. In 1969 his life was tragically cut short due to a hunting gun accident in his home. The late Cajun Hall of Fame duo fiddlers Dennis McGee and Sadey Courville dedicated a song to honor him called “Le Two Step a Frere DeVillier”. The song appears on the top 40 all time Cajun song list. There is a photo hanging of Amar and his brother in law Angelas Manuel on the wall inside the famous Fred’s Lounge in Mamou Louisiana. He was inducted into the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter Hall of Fame November 2019.