Musician. He was a violinist, known as one of the most influential Cajun musicians of the 20th century. Along with his brothers Rodney, Will, Burkeman and Harry, he played as the Balfa Brothers Band. From the 1950s to 1980s, the band became successful in establishing the traditional Cajun music culture in popularity at many concerts through the "Big Easy", to include the Cajun Music Festival Lafayette, Louisiana, Smithsonian Folkways, Washington D.C. and the Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island. In 1982 he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment for the Arts, the US Government's highest award given to traditional artists. He died in Eunice, Louisiana.
Musician. He was a violinist, known as one of the most influential Cajun musicians of the 20th century. Along with his brothers Rodney, Will, Burkeman and Harry, he played as the Balfa Brothers Band. From the 1950s to 1980s, the band became successful in establishing the traditional Cajun music culture in popularity at many concerts through the "Big Easy", to include the Cajun Music Festival Lafayette, Louisiana, Smithsonian Folkways, Washington D.C. and the Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island. In 1982 he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment for the Arts, the US Government's highest award given to traditional artists. He died in Eunice, Louisiana.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
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Charles Balfa
1897–1950
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Amy Ardoin Balfa
1896–1967
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Hilda Fruge Balfa
1930–1980
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Will Bolfa
1917–1979
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Cecile Balfa Granger
1920–1990
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Hazel Bolfa Aucoin
1922–2001
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Harry Balfa
1931–1995
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Rodney Pierre Balfa
1934–1979
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Burkeman Joseph Balfa
1936–2004
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Wedney Joseph Balfa
1938–1976
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Joseph Dewey Balfa
1962–1971
Flowers
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