{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}} {{Short description|American musician (1918–1981)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Austin Pitre | image = AustinPitre-OpelousasWaltzCD.jpg | alt = | caption = Austin Pitre | image_size = | birth_name = Austin Pitre | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1918|02|23}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1981|04|08|1918|02|23}} | origin = Ville Platte, Louisiana | instrument = Cajun accordion | genre = Cajun | occupation = Musician, Accordionist | associated_acts = The Evangeline Playboys, The Louisiana Rhythmaires | label = Feature Records, Arhoolie Records, Swallow Records | website = }}

'''Austin Pitre''' (February 23, 1918 - April 8, 1981)<ref>Joseph Vige PItre. {{cite web|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pitretrail/Individuals/JVPitreMEF.htm |title=Joachin Louis Pitre |access-date=2014-05-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506211309/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pitretrail/Individuals/JVPitreMEF.htm |archive-date=2014-05-06 }}</ref> was an American musician. A Cajun music pioneer, Pitre claimed to be the first musician to play the accordion standing up, rather than sitting down. Along with his band, the Evangeline Playboys, Pitre recorded Cajun dancehall hits such as the "Opelousas Waltz."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/austin-pitre/2527547|title=Austin Pitre on Apple Music|website=Music.apple.com|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>Broven, John. ''South To Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous''. Pelican Publishing (June 30, 1983), p. 235</ref>

==Family== Pitre was born in Ville Platte, Louisiana to father Joseph Vige Pitre and mother Marie Fontenot. His older brother, Jean Baptiste "Curley" Pitre (June 14, 1906 - December 29, 1978) was a farmer who lived in the Prairie Ronde area. Austin first married Joyce Vidrine from Bayou Chicot, with whom he had the following sons: Aurelie Joseph Pitre, Sr., Harris Pitre, Sr., and Albert Pitre. After divorcing Joyce, Austin married Dorothy Lou Rider from Eunice. They had the following children: James Pitre, Rena, and Mary Pitre. Austin had another son, Austin Ray Pitre, whose mother was Louvine Fontenot.

==Music and career== Pitre was the front man for Austin Pitre & the Evangeline Playboys for many years and played dance halls around the South Louisiana area. His unique style of playing included standing up to play the accordion without the aid of a shoulder strap, as well as playing the accordion behind his head and between his legs. Besides being a talented musician, Pitre was also a highly regarded mechanic and had his own automotive repair shop near Ville Platte, Louisiana.

==Death and legacy== Pitre died on April 8, 1981, at the age of 63. He is buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery on Highway 190 east of Eunice, Louisiana.

In 1997, Pitre was posthumously inducted into the Cajun French Music Association's Hall of Fame. That same year, Arhoolie released the CD ''Austin Pitre & His Evangeline Playboys - Opelousas Waltz'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arhoolie.com/titles/452.shtml|title=Austin Pitre|website=Arhoolie.com|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref> which was a remaster of recordings that Pitre had made in 1971.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flattownmusic.com/artist/austin-pitre/|title=Austin Pitre |website=Flattownmusic.com|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref>

Pitre's last wife, Dorothy, died March 14, 2014, and is buried next to him in Mount Calvary Cemetery. She was active in preserving his legacy as well as Cajun music in general. She was a disc jockey for KEUN for many years, hosted the weekly Rendezvous des Cajuns at the Liberty Theater in Eunice, Louisiana, and also worked at the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Eunice where Austin Pitre's Monarch accordion can be seen.

==Discography== * "Chatatinia Waltz" / "Evangeline Playboys Special" (F-1013 Feature Records, 1948) (45-10184, LP 6009 Swallow Records) <ref>[http://www.globaldogproductions.info/f/feature.html] {{dead link|date=July 2025}}</ref> * "High Point Two Step" / "Redell Waltz" (F-1019 Feature Records, 1948) * "Manuel Bar Waltz" / "Midway Two-Step" (BM 101, CDCHD 783 Big Mamou Records, 1957). Associated with Milton Molitor. * "Opelousas Waltz" / "Flum De Faire (Flames Of Hell)" (45-106, LP 6001, CDCHD 783 Swallow Records, 1959) * "Rainbow Waltz" / "Rene's Special (inst.)" (45-108, CDCHD 783 Swallow Records, 1960) * "Two Step de Bayou Teche" / "Chinaball Blues" (45-114, LP 6001 Swallow Records, 1960) * "Two Step A Tante Adele" / "Mamou Blues" (45-117 Swallow Records, 1961) * "J'ai Coiner A Ta Porte" / "La Valse D'Amour" (45-118 Swallow Records) * "Don't Shake My Tree" / "Jungle Club Waltz" (45-10146, CH 141 Swallow Records, 1963) * "New Oakdale Waltz" / "Lakeview Special" (45-10171, CH 141 Swallow Records) * "La Pauvre Hobo" / "Pretty Rosie Cheeks" (45-10121, Swallow Records) '''Compilations''' * ''Cajun Folk Music: Southern Journey 15'' (25015 Prestige/International, 1956–1959) * ''Folksongs Of The Louisiana Acadians Vol. 2'', Various Artists (LP5015 Arhoolie, 1956–1959) * ''Back To The Bayou'', Austin Pitre and The Evangeline Playboys (SNTF 815 Sonet Records (England), 1979) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/473097964|title=Back to the bayou|website=Search.worldcat.org|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref> * ''Austin Pitre & The Evangeline Playboys'' (LP-6041 Swallow Records, 1981) * ''The Swallow Recordings'', D. L. Menard / Austin Pitre (CDCHD 327 Ace Records, 1991) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3317006-D-L-Menard-Austin-Pitre-The-Swallow-Recordings|title=D. L. Menard / Austin Pitre - The Swallow Recordings|date=Jul 25, 1991|access-date=July 25, 2025|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> * ''Opelousas Waltz'', Austin Pitre And The Evangeline Playboys (CD 452 Arhoolie Records, 1997)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arhoolie.com/cajun-and-zydeco/austin-pitre-opelousas-waltz.html?sl=EN|title=Cajun & Zydeco :: Austin Pitre - Opelousas Waltz - Arhoolie Records|website=Arhoolie.com|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref> * ''The Essential Early Cajun Recordings of Austin Pitre And The Evangeline Playboys'', (SW6211 Swallow Records, 1999) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flattownmusic.com/shop/music/cajun/austin-pitre-the-essential-early-cajun-recordings-cd/|title=Austin Pitre – The Essential Early Cajun Recordings CD |website=Flattownmusic.com|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref>

==See also== * List of people related to Cajun music * History of Cajun Music

==References== {{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitre, Austin}} Category:1918 births Category:1981 deaths Category:People from Ville Platte, Louisiana Category:American folk musicians Category:Musicians from Louisiana Category:Cajun accordionists Category:20th-century American musicians Category:20th-century accordionists