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Services set for Nolton Semien, longtime Creole musician

Posted at 3:40 PM, May 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-23 16:51:24-04

Services will be June 1 for Nolton “Horse” Semien, who died Wednesday.

Semien was 79.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on June 1 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawtell. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Father Borgia Aubespin, Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, will be officiating the funeral mass. Semien was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.

Semien was “a true Louisiana treasure and the last of his kind,” according to the liner notes of his 2012 album, “Oh Lucille.”

“Young Nolton would sit at his father’s feet watching him play the accordion. When Papa Semien took a rest, he would give the squeezebox a try. From the 50s to the 80s Nolton performed at zydeco trail rides and nearly every church hall and dance club in Louisiana,” the notes state.

He’s also credited with inspiring many Zydeco and Creole musicians.

Semien is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Elnora Semien of Lawtell, LA; two sons, John (Charlene Brown) Semien and Mark (Britney) Semien, both of Lawtell, LA; one daughter, Daphne (Darren Jackson) Semien of Lawtell, LA; one brother, Joseph Semien of Lafayette, LA; four sisters, Joyce Semien, Mary Semien, Willie Mae Richard and Wilda Semien, all of Lawtell, LA; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church. A rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m.

Ford and Joseph Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.