Octa Clark

Octa Clark (April 30, 1904 in Judice, Louisiana – September 11, 1998 in Lafayette, Louisiana) was an American Cajun accordion player. Clark was a local Lafayette area musician and made three recordings of Cajun music.[3]

Octa Clark
Born(1904-04-30)April 30, 1904[1]
Judice, Louisiana, United States
DiedSeptember 11, 1998(1998-09-11) (aged 94)[2]
Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
GenresCajun
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter,, accordionist
InstrumentsCajun accordion
LabelsArhoolie Records, Rounder Records

Career

He started recording at the age of 13, and released his third recording in 1989, at the age of 89. His recording in 1989 was produced by his grandson, Glen Clark.[4] In 1928, he became music partners with fellow farmer and fiddler Hector Duhon and the two formed the Dixie Ramblers.[5] When they weren't working on their farms, they would play at dance halls. During the 1980s, Clark took over the house band that played at Mulate's, a club that wasn't doing well and aided in its revival.[6] He repeatedly turned down prestigious events and opportunities to play in Europe and Japan saying, in an interview in 1993, "I don't like to travel. Too much trouble. I've got everything I need right here."[6]

Death

Clark died in 1998 at the Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana[6] and is buried in Maurice, Louisiana.[7] He was survived by two sons, a daughter, nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.[6]

Discography
  • Octa Clark Old Time Cajun Music (CD 9018 Arhoolie Records, 1981)
  • Ensemble Encore (Rounder Select Records, January 1992)
  • Cajun Spice: Dance Music from South Louisiana (CDROUN11550 Rounder Records, 1989)

See also

References
  1. "Octa Clark". Eunice, Louisiana: Cajun French Music Association. November 2, 1997. Archived from the original on November 15, 2004. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  2. "Octa Clark". Find a Grave. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  3. "Obituary: Cajun Singer Octa Clark". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  4. Tisser, Michael. "Octogenarian Octa Clark Gets Busy; Cajun and Zydeco in Austin". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  5. "Musical performance by Hector Duhon, Octa Clark, Dewey Balfa et. al". Louisiana Digital Library. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  6. "Octa Clark". St Martin-Lafayette-Vermillion County Louisiana Archives News. April 13, 2020.
  7. "Octa Clark | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2020.


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