When you hear the sounds of Cajun or Zydeco music, there is a good chance you have heard the work of Clarence Martin Jr.
For more than 50 years, Junior Martin built handmade accordions that became a big part of Louisiana music. His instruments have been played by musicians across Acadiana, Southwest Louisiana, and around the world.
Martin’s story did not start with music. He began his career building cabinets before taking a different path and learning the craft of making accordions.
From his shop in Scott, Louisiana, Junior created handmade, single-row diatonic accordions that became known for their quality and unique sound. Every instrument was carefully built using special woods from around the world, with each one taking weeks to complete…