Yes! Carlos Cortez! A very cool guy. My youngest daughter had a garden appartment right next to his house to the south. I used to catch Carlos and his wife sitting out front when we'd visit. I always enjoyed them both. Please give them my regards.

I got to hear and meet the great Nathan Abshire one year when he and the Balfa Brothers came to the Chicago area to play at a private Fais Do-Do in the early 1970s. They played accoustic Cajun music all afternoon outside and their wives made us a big gumbo dinner. That evening they moved us into the host's barn for a Cajun dance and Bill Kieth showed up and sat in on banjo. Needless to say it remains a highlight of my musical memories. PBS once aired a special on Nathan Abshire, I suppose a copy could be purchased if one knew where. I confess I had become somewhat dismissive of the accordion but Nathan showed me what wonderful music could come from one in the right hands. He completely changed my attitude about the instrument.

Al Dexter is of course most famous as the composer of Pistol Packin' Momma and was the first country performer to appear on Broadway. I don't actually know whether Al played the accordion but the instrument is featured so prominantly on his recording I always supposed it was Al playing.

      - Mark