Builder: Toby Cormier
Years: June 2009 to present
Iberia Parish native Toby Cormier has lived in a family of musicians, and after taking up an interest in the craft of accordion-making has steadily built up a clientele of people interested in his work.
Cajun music has always been a big part of the Cormier family. As a child, he would watch his father and his uncles play Cajun music, hoping that when he grew up he would be doing the same. He states:
One day, I asked my dad to show me how to play the accordion. After a few lessons I wanted to buy my own accordion. I found a Magnolia accordion for sale that my Uncle Fred Cormier had built. I made the purchase and that’s where it all started.
It was really just an interest I always had. My uncle and everyone were all musicians, I just wanted to build one, so I finally did it.He was very curious as to how this little box worked, so he unscrewed the face plate and was amazed. After hours of research and speaking to other accordion builders he was determined to build my own. He states:
My uncle was Freddie Cormier, he lived in Magnolia. He had passed away and then I went to meet a cousin of mine and asked if he had any parts, he was giving the parts away and he gave me what he had left and I took off and did my own thing.
I was able to get some Magnolia accordion parts from one of my family members, and I decided to do my own thing. After I would finish making one piece, I would bring it to my buddy Moisey Baudoin, who builds the Vermilion accordions, to check it out for me. If the part was right, I would keep it, but if there was something wrong with it, I would go back to my shop and make the necessary adjustments.
His first accordion took a year to build as he currently worked in the oil field and he was just doing this as a hobby.
I am very thankful for the knowledge that I have gained from other accordion builders in this area. I am also very grateful for the time that they graciously spent with me helping me perfect my accordions. I am very hopeful that one day Cormier Accordions will be a major part of Cajun music.After a meeting with country music superstar Gary Allan in 2017, Allan purchased one of Cormier’s accordions after being impressed with the quality. The incident hit local media and Cormier said even garnered a boost in business after his work was shown around Acadiana.
For that Gary Allan concert, I showed him a few pictures and met up with John Lancaster (Allan’s piano player). He wanted me to get on the bus and show Gary. After John invited me on the bus to show Gary he wanted one, so I built them each one.
Contact:
Toby Cormier
7502 Jefferson island Rd.
New Iberia, LA 70560
(337) 278-9875
- Turning musical hobby into a side business BY COREY VAUGHN | THE DAILY IBERIAN. Jan 24, 2019 (https://www.iberianet.com/news/turning-musical-hobby-into-a-side-business/article_a12622aa-1f9d-11e9-b375-3f384e5071d0.html)
