Iry LeJeune | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ira LeJeune |
| Also known as | Iry |
| Born | October 27, 1928 |
| Origin | Pointe Noire, Louisiana, U.S |
| Died | October 8, 1955 (aged 26) |
| Genres | Cajun music |
| Occupations | Accordion player |
| Instruments | Accordion |
| Labels | FolkStar Records, Opera Records |
Ira "Iry" LeJeune (October 27,[1] 1928[2] – October 8, 1955[2]) was one of the best selling and most popular Cajun musicians in the mid to late 1940s into the early 1950s.
His recordings and repertoire remain influential to the present day. He was among a handful of recording artists who returned the accordion to prominence in commercially recorded Cajun music and dance hall performances. The return of the accordion contrasted with the popular Cajun recorded output of the late 1930s and 1940s, a time during which fiddles and Western Swing sounds from Texas were influencing Cajun music. The return of the accordion to prominence is referred to as a Cajun music renaissance, i.e. a return to the roots and rebirth in Cajun pride in their traditional music. Iry LeJeune is regarded as one of the best and most beloved Cajun accordionists and singers of all time.