29 Facts About Nathan Abshire

Nathan Abshire released his best-known record, "Pine Grove Blues", in 1949.

Nathan Abshire was never able to write so he was unable to sign autographs, resulting in him having to politely decline the requests.

However, Nathan Abshire was taught how to write his own signature by Barry Jean Ancelet.

Nathan Abshire had multiple jobs during his life and his final job was working as the custodian of the town's dump.

Nathan Abshire's legacy continued after his death in the form of a museum, a book, and a magazine special issue.

Nathan Abshire was born on June 27,1913, close to Gueydan, Louisiana, to Lennis Nathan Abshire and an unidentified mother.

Nathan Abshire was considered illiterate and he had trouble speaking English.

Nathan Abshire began performing in public on the accordion when he was eight years old and he was considered to be an "accomplished musician"; he'd learned to play on an accordion that cost him $3.50.

Nathan Abshire played with fiddler Lionel Leleux, who he was taught by, and the accordion player Ardoin during the 1930s.

Nathan Abshire played with the Rayne-Bo Ramblers again in the 1960s.

Nathan Abshire was a member the US Army and was in World War II which stopped him from playing the accordion.

Nathan Abshire was discharged from the military after he broke his leg while training.

Nathan Abshire moved to Basile, Louisiana after his time in the war and he performed at the Avalon Club often.

Nathan Abshire's better known record titled "Pine Grove Blues" was released in 1949, a song based on Amede Breaux's "Le Blues de Petit Chien", as well as several releases on Swallow Records and Arhoolie Records during the 1960s.

Nathan Abshire appeared with Dewey Balfa and The Balfa Brothers at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964.

Nathan Abshire's music became more well known outside of Louisiana at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival.

At some point, Nathan Abshire received an offer to perform with Hank Williams.

In 1970, Nathan Abshire played with the Balfa Brothers at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Nathan Abshire was unable to write so he was unable to sign autographs, resulting in him having to politely decline the requests.

Nathan Abshire considered his inability to do those things as frustrating and humiliating.

Nathan Abshire learned how to write a signature from Barry Jean Ancelet and his signature used "stick figure letters" to sign "N A".

Nathan Abshire had multiple jobs during his life and his final job was working as the custodian of the town's landfill.

Nathan Abshire took used objects from his yard to sell on his front porch.

Nathan Abshire was a main feature in a 1971 documentary titled Spend It All which was directed by Les Blank, as well as being featured in a 1975 documentary from PBS titled The Good Times Are Killing Me.

Nathan Abshire was included in the documentary film, Les Blues de Balfa, along with Balfa.

Nathan Abshire died in Basile, Louisiana on May 13,1981, at Savoy Memorial Hospital in Mamou after a long illness.

Shortly before he died, Nathan Abshire came back from the New Orleans Heritage Fair and was invited to an accordion festival in Brussels, Belgium.

In September 1981, a commemorative print of Nathan Abshire performing live was sold in The Kinder Courier News.

In 1983, Nathan Abshire's wife refused to have his accordion on display at the Smithsonian Institution.