Jamey Bearb uses the same accordion he played at 7 years old. He inherited it from his dad.

Jamey Bearb grew up with strict accordion rules. His dad, Cajun musician Ricky Bearb, demanded the accordion, handmade by pioneer builder Marc Savoy, sit a precise position in its storage box. Even the shoulder strap had its designated place.

Seven-year-old Jamey could practice only in the room where the instrument was stored.

Forty years later, he owns the accordion. His father has a big smile.

“The day I got that accordion was the first time we played the (Breaux Bridge) Crawfish Festival in 2022,” said Jamey Bearb, 48, who lives in Judice. “It’s 50 years old, but that thing is in amazing shape. I’ve been playing on it ever since. I made all our recordings with that accordion.

“My dad said, ‘I know you would get that accordion eventually. But I want to see you enjoy it,'" he said.

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