Each week, American Routes brings you “Shortcuts,” a sneak peak at the upcoming program. This week, in honor of election season, we’ll listen in to host Nick Spitzer’s conversation in 2012 with Cajun fiddler and local politician Roland Cheramie. Roland grew up in Golden Meadow Louisiana, a village in Bayou Lafourche. He cultivated a love for the French language and Cajun culture of his grandparents. As an adult, Cheramie became a radio personality. In 2012 he ran for Town Council of Golden Meadow and stopped by the American Routes studios to talk about music, politics and family life on the Bayou. To hear more, listen on WWNO Saturday at 7 or Sunday at 6, or listen at americanroutes.org
RC: As I love to say, and am proud of saying, there’s more Cheramies than mosquitos.
NS: They give you the itch, huh? Now in English, Cheramie translates into “Dear Friend”, huh?
RC: Dear Friend, uh-huh. You can hate me, but you still gotta call me “Dear Friend.”
NS: I was gonna say, how can there be too many if they’re all your dear friends. You’re running for office, do you campaign in French?
RC: Well, I have to, cause Golden Meadow, a lot of the citizens there in Golden Meadow, again, they will associate me with French. They don’t even know my real name.
NS: Is that right?
RC: They know me as “Picajean”
NS: That’s your nickname
RC: Which was my radio name. Which my dad gave it to me, he said, if you forget anybody’s request, they will not find you, because I was at 450 pounds, I was a big guy.
NS: It’s funny how those Cajun nicknames go the opposite direction for what they are.
RC: It’s so true.
NS: When you get out for a campaign event, have you been playing the fiddle and singing?
RC: Oh, you have to. Cause, I walk out the house, when I walk the town I actually bring my fiddle. Because that’s one of the first questions they ask. I actually had one old guy, he’s a really good friend of mine, he actually said, “don’t par de la porte autre moin si tu a ton violin.” “Don’t walk through the door unless you have your fiddle.” So I actually had to go back home to get my fiddle.
NS: When you go door to door to soembody’s house and they invite you in, what do you play for them?
RC: Most of the time, it’s whatever they request. And probably 90% of the time, it’s either La Porte en Arriere, or Jolie Blon.
NS: Would you like to do one of those tunes? How about Jolie Blon?
RC: Jolie Blon? Ok.
(plays)
NS: Jolie Blon, some people call that the Cajun National Anthem. But you’re just running for the Town Council of Golden Meadow, so you bring it home.
RC: It works, yep, it works.
NS: So do the older people ask for the waltz and the younger ones want the two-step?
RC: That’s exactly right! That’s exactly what they do.
NS: Do you think you have an advantage over the other 12 guys running for office against you by playing the fiddle?
RC: I do have an advantage, I feel. Because people have seen me play in the community, they’ve you know, how many have told me I remember sittin’ in front of the TV with my grandma and grandpa, and hearing you play these old French songs and going to listen to you at the local park and so I think it is an advantage.
NS: Well, Roland Cheramie I want to wish you good luck in your upcoming election battle down in Golden Meadow; next time I see you I assume you’re going to be a City Councilman. Bien merci pour l’intreview y pour la musique.
RC: Merci pour m’inviter. Et arête-pas la musique.
NS: Is there something that you could maybe play for us as you go home? You want to give us a little of Port en Arriere? That’s the back door.
RC: Yeah.