As you may know by now, California Friends of Louisiana French Music (CFLFM) has officially shut their doors. I want to take a moment here to thank all those wonderful folks who worked so hard for so many years to promote Cajun, Creole and Zydeco (CCZ) music in the San Francisco Bay Area. They truly had a vision to keep this music alive. Their vision was inspired in part by their love of CCZ music and culture and in part by the late, great Danny Poullard.

From the very first CFLFM board to the last CFLFM board, the concept of continuing CCZ music was always the first priority. I was lucky indeed to have been able to have worked along side of some of the finest people around, namely board members Richard Benson, Diana Castillo, Alison Jacks, Dana Mandell, Robert Richard, Shirley Robertson, Sandy Sino and so many others, all who provided energy and tireless effort to keep CFLFM moving forward for it's last few years. At the end of the day, it was Diana Castillo who offered me the ultimate in guidance, support and friendship. For all that and more, I remain grateful to each and every one of you.

Here's the good news!

There remains a large group of committed people who love Cajun, Creole and Zydeco (CCZ) music, culture and dance. There also remains musicians who make up bands such as Mes Bons Amis, Sauce Piquante and Cortableu to name just a few of the many great bands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not to be forgotten are the many musicians who regularly work at their musical craft through jamming and other group playing. There is even a dance floor (or two) which is yours for the asking. And finally there is this new revised version of the website, now called the community website, that we have just just unveiled courtesy of our own Cooksey-Talbott.

It was the wish of the now-defunct CFLFM board to make this website available to the larger CCZ community. Specifically, it was the boards' wish to have the areas (forums) of this newly revised community website, open for use by anyone in the CCZ community to do the following:

• Provide information about local events, in the CCZ scene
• Promote an event, party or jam
• Publish articles about music, dance and the scene
• Offer links to other CCZ websites
• Provide information about dance lessons and workshops

We have the opportunity to create an online community that will be self-sustaining and will serve to promote Cajun/Creole culture and music in the Bay Area.

This is a wonderful resource so folks, let's use it!

A few of you have written me already saying you wanted to put on a few articles about new CD's or jamming sessions, or photographs. Others have contacted me asking about posting information about jams and lessons and parties.

So, this is official!

If you haven't received an email invitation, click here and you will be to able to send your name and email address to us. We will then create a user account for you on the new site that will allow you to post events or articles.

Musicians and Events Posters!!! SEND IN!

You will be able to post all of your gigs here very simply and reach the Cajun/Creole music and dance community at large.

Dance Instructors!!! SEND IN!

We want to have a good schedule of dance classes so that those wanting to learn can find a teacher.

Writers of Cajun oriented articles and CD Reviews!!! SEND IN!

We would love to have you as a blogger on our site!!!

All we need is your name and email address to set you up with a user account. Just use the contact page.

One Thought!!!

We are using the working website title of California Friends. This is only as permanent as it need be until a better name is produced. Won't you all please consider mulling over the name thing and send us your ideas. Who knows, maybe we can put together a name that website contest!

Well, that's it. If this works, the SF Bay Area now has it's own website which can be used by members of our community.

Come back often. Bon temps!