La Veillée

Doc Guidry and the Cajun Fiddle

These days, Louisiana French music is infused with the sounds of several key instruments, including the guitar, the accordion, and more. But in its early years, Cajun music was all about the fiddle, and Oran “Doc” Guidry was one of the first Louisiana violinists to define the genre. Through archival interviews with Doc’s contemporaries and an interview with his grandson, we learn about Doc’s role in the rise and fall of the Cajun fiddle as well as his ongoing impact on his family and community.