Steve Riley Online Cajun Accordion Lessons

05/03/2026

First round of earlybird registration is now open May 3rd-May 17th! Email [email protected] for details and registration.

For the next round of online accordion lessons June 8th-July 6th, I am going to feature the following songs from Octa Clark. Freight Train Blues, Back of Town 2-step, Valse de Grand-mère, Crawfish Festival Waltz, & Black Top Blues. I had the fortune of meeting him & recording with him when he was in his 90s! Can you imagine doing a recording with a guy in his 90’s who only spoke French, wouldn’t sing anymore, but could still play so amazingly well?! There are some great stories behind these songs & my time in the studio with him! I’ll share those stories as well as break down these wonderful tunes in the next round of lagniappe videos!

04/07/2026

This video has inspired me to feature songs from Octa Clark in the lagniappe videos for the next round of online accordion lessons starting in early-mid June!

I had the fortune of meeting Octa & recording with him when he was 90 years old! Can you imagine doing a recording with a 90 year old guy who only spoke French, wouldn’t sing anymore, but could still play so amazingly well?! We definitely bonded musically! I just tried to provide a solid rhythm for his great accordion playing!
Y’all remember Octa?

There are some great stories behind many of his songs & my time in the studio with him! I’ll share those stories as well as break down these wonderful tunes (Freight train, Back of Town 2-step, Valse de Grand-mère, Crawfish Festival Waltz, & Black Top Blues) in the next round of lagniappe videos!

This is my grandfather, Octa Clark performing at the 1994 Festival Internationale de Louisiane, when he was honored with a living tribute to his contribution...