The Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a project of the Cajun French Music Association. It was made possible through thousands of hours of volunteer labor by CFMA members from many towns and cities and through support from donations also raised by volunteers. The building itself is a one-room country store that dates from the 1930s, the kind of structure--either a store or a home--in which dances were held earlier in the 20th century.

CFMA members choose the musicians and other persons who made significant contributions to Cajun music for inclusion in  the Hall of Fame. Their photographs hang on the walls of the museum along with biographical sketches of their lives. The museum also houses various vintage musical instruments as well as such artifacts as a Model A electrical generator used to power microphones at country dances in the era before utility service reached the countryside. Old records and other memorabilia are housed in display cases.

The museum has added a display with mannequins of Joe Falcon, born near Rayne in 1900, and his first wife, Cléoma Falcon, born in Crowley in 1905, who together made the first commercial recording of Cajun music in 1928. In the center is Lionel LeLeux, who was a fiddler and fiddle-maker born in 1910 in Vermilion Parish. He performed with the Falcons, Lawrence Walker, and Don Montoucet and The Wandering Aces.

Musicians performing at the grand opening were Linzay Young, Jason Babineaux, Shelton Manuel, and Joel Savoy.

Additional musicians will added to the ranks of the Hall of Fame annually.  The names of the initial inductees were announced at the grand opening of the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum November 29, 1997. Family members of deceased inductees were on hand to be recognized, and many of the living musicians were there in person.

The Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum is located next to the Eunice Museum at 240 South C.C. Duson Drive, a block east of the Liberty Theatre. As of 2009, hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Phone (337) 457-6534. Admission is free. Donations to support the CMHFM are welcome.

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Updated May 2009