Center for Louisiana Studies Archival Catalog
This searchable database provides information on images, documents, and audio and video recordings, made between 1934 and the present.
Interview with Floyd Soileau
0:58 - Interest in music and early experiences in the industry;
3:26 - Recording French music and beyond;
5: 33 - Other independent producers and labels;
10:30 - Building the studios;
14:54 - Record Pressing Plant taking the place of the studio;
16: 11 - Early releases;
19:42 - Splitting off the Jin label;
20:24- Editing the spelling of Soileau to Swallow;
21:30 - Starting his roots music label and his Zydeco music label - the "house of soul" "Maison de Soule";
24: 09 - Flat town music co.;
25:087 - Other labels founded by Soileau;
26:54 - Rare records;
28:01 - Popular recording artists;
36:17 - Changing artists names;
39:46 - Future of Swamp Pop;
40:50 - Defining Swamp Pop - Origin of the name "Swamp Pop";
42:52 - Hank Williams;
43:37 - Creating a great song;
45:31 - A touch of sax.
Interview with J.D. "Jay" Miller
01:00 - The life of a musician;
01:58 - Current projects for the label;
03:37 - Buckwheat Zydeco;
04:23 - Clifton Chenier;
05:26 - "La La" Music;
06:24 - Recording before regional studios;
06:37 - New Orleans and Cosimo Matassa;
07:00 - Tape Recorders;
08:15 - Getting into the recording business;
11:00 - 78rpm records;
11:20 - Rice Festival;
13:00 - Recording then and now;
16:35 - Nashville Studios;
17:08 - Jimmy Newman and Al Terry;
17:28 - Fred Rose and Hickory Records;
18:57 - "Cry, Cry Darling" and "Good Deal Lucille";
19:38 - Sam Davis Hotel;
20:57 - Acuff-Rose Music;
22:30 - Playing music- 1930s;
22:40 - Music Contest in Lake Charles;
23:30 - String bands, Original Aces;
26:49 - Breaux Brothers;
28:49 - Performing at places with no electricity;
31:50 - Military service;
34:10 - Fais Do-Do Records;
34:30 - Colinda; Happy Fats, Doc Guidry And The Hadacol Boys;
35:28 - Jimmie Davis;
38:22 - Feature Labels;
39:34 - Blues Unlimited label;
39:45 - Clarence Garlow;
39:47 - Richard King;
40:08 - Lightnin' Slim;
40:21 - Slim Harpo, Lonesome Sundown, Lazy Lester;
40:45 - Zen label name meaning;
41:11 - Blues Unlimited and Buckwheat Zydeco;
41:20 - Kajun Label and Nathan Abshire;
41:45 - Rocko Label;
42:10 - Warren Storm;
44:44 - Johnnie Allen
Interview with J. D. Miller (cont.)
0:01 - Jake Graffagnino and JIN records;
3:32 - Recording techniques;
6:28 - Different recording artists
16:08 - Segregation and Racism;
22:17 - Publishing companies - lawsuits, royalties;
25:04 - Songwriting
27:50 - Define Swamp Pop - Cajun Accent;
30:42 - How the sound of Swamp Pop changes per studio;
31:51 - Importance of Echos to the Swamp Pop Sound;
35:49 - Trying to make an Echo Room;
39:35 - Future of Swamp Pop - Roots to Country Music;
Interview with J.D. Miller (cont.)
0:13 - Warren Storm releasing new music;
0:48 - Benefits of modern recording techniques;
1:10 - Nashville;
2:30 - Rumors about musicians;
2:55 - Story about Lazy Lester;
4:11 - Lazy Lester going to Angola;
5:50 - Story about artist from New Orleans;
Interview with Chick Vidrine
*Content Warning - Insensitive Language*
0:37 - Various bands and band members;
2:37 - Jimmy Clinton;
4:24 - Origins of the Southern Club;
4:42 - Early years / performers;
8:36 - First steady band (Wesley Brown)
9:36 - Rise of Rock 'n Roll;
10:53 - Fats Domino;
11:59 - Problems with bands (Dee Clark & Smiley Lewis);
16:51 - Loretta Lynn & her sister;
17:19 - Freddie Fender;
22:51 - Keeping the bands watered, hard times;
27:28 - Fights;
28:36 - Floor bouncers;
32:11 - Bobby Charles;
35:21 - More origins of Southern Club;
37:38 - Rock 'n Roll Saturday nights;
40:42 - Family of club owners;
40:56 - The Tampico;
46:22 - Paul Soileau
Interview with Chick Vidrine (cont.)
00:16 - Wesley Brown;
00:38 - Paul Soileau;
01:50 - Esquerita;
03:38 - Little Richard;
03:50 - Chuck Berry;
03:58 - Lloyd Price;
04:37 - Segregation in the dance halls;
05:45 - Cookie and the Cupcakes - black bands playing for white crowds, violence of the white crowds;
10:37 - Club competition;
12:55 - First association with Zydeco music;
12:57 - Clifton Chenier;
13:37 - Zydeco name origin;
14:00 - diabetes;
16:25 - Rockin Dopsie;
16:45 - Lafayette, LA;
18:05 - Changing names of Cajun names;
19:45 - Leaving Louisiana;
20:40 - Norman Artigue;
21:25 - Band wages;
22:03 - Jimmy Reed;
24:50 - Ray Charles;
25:53 - Club capacity;
27:25 - Hard rocking 1970s;
29:30 - Matisse
Interview with Johnnie Allan
Interviewed by Shane Bernard and Charles "C.C." Adcock;
01:00 - Louisiana musicians who used stage names - Bobby Charles, Benny Graeff;
01:57 - Golden age of Swamp Pop;
03:25 - Defining Swamp Pop - "Half fais-do-do and half Domino";
06:13 - Engineering Swamp Pop sound - Floyd Soileau, J.D. Miller, Eddie Shuler;
06:40 - More on J.D. Miller's influence;
08:45 - Billy Joe Royal;
10:12 - Johnnie's musical influences - Started playing Cajun music pretty early in life, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Little Richard;
12:43 - Discussing radio stations he'd listen to when he was younger - Del Rio, Nashville, Chicago radio stations;
16:12 - Family members who played music - All of his siblings played and sang, his grandfather and mom were both musicians;
17:13 - Talking about his time playing with Walter Mouton and Lawrence Walker
18:45 - Swamp pop standards - Mathilda is what Johnnie considers the "anthem of Swamp Pop";
20:21 - Johnnie saw Elvis Presley perform in Shreveport on the Louisiana Hayride;
23:00 - African American and white musicians recording and performing together prior to integration - They discuss how this influenced the music
27:18 - Brushes with success - "Promised Land" was released four times in England
30:00 - Touring Europe;
31:15 – Andy Kershaw;
33:50 - Roots music revival;
36:38 - Discussing stage names;
41:01 - First Band - Krazy Kats - recording their first song - most of Johnnie's early recordings were w/ Floyd Soileau and recorded by J.D. Miller;
43:20 - Discussing payola;
45:35 - Discussing the other people who cowrote "South to Louisiana"
Interview with Warren Storm (after Johnnie Allan interview)
Johnnie Allan interview (cont.):
00:01 - Publishing rights;
01:23 - Suing for publishing rights;
01:39 - "Family Rule," Lonnie Brooks;
03:25 - Floyd Soileau;
04:48 - Royalties;
05:27 - Hiding master tapes;
06:17 - Judging success;
07:44 - J. D. Miller;
08:55 - Louisiana artists signing with non-Louisiana record labels;
09:15 - Cosimo Matassa;
9:55 - Beatles, Rolling Stones;
11:11 - Mick Jagger talking about Louisiana;
12:38 - Publishing a book about Jimmy Donley;
15:16 - Touring with big names;
15:22 - Rod Bernard;
15:40 - Freddy Cannon;
15:42 - Larry Williams;
15:45 - Johnny Horton;
16:00 - Frankie Ford;
16:07 - Skip & Flip;
16:50 - Swamp pop going countrywide;
17:05 - New country;
Interview with Warren Storm [21:40]:
22:24 - Rhythm and Blues, origins of Swamp Pop;
22:54 - Influences;
22:59 - Fats Domino;
23:00 - Joe Turner;
23:01 - Chuck Willis;
23:02 - Little Richard;
23:03 - Chuck Berry;
23:04 - Elvis Presley;
23:12 - Playing country music, Hank Williams;
23:34 - Rainbow Ramblers, Happy Fats, Al Terry, Doc Guidry;
24:15 - Meeting Hank Williams on the Hadacol caravan;
25:04 - Dudley LeBlanc;
25:07 - Bobby Charles;
25:39 - Dave Bartholomew and Cosimo Matassa;
26:14 - "Walkin' To New Orleans";
26:50 - The Cardinals;
27:40 - Meeting Elvis Presley;
30:45 - Playing with various bands;
31:02 - Herb Landry;
31:08 - Larry Brasso;
32:08 - Origin of and list of early band names;
32:48 - Skip Stewart;
33:39 - J. D. Miller;
35:30 - Nasco records;
35:40 - Excello records;
35:48 - Lazy Lester;
35:49 - Lightnin' Slim;
35:50 - Slim Harpo;
35:51 - Lonesome Sundown;
36:34 - Ernie Young;
36:40 - Rocko label;
36:50 - Recording in Nashville;
37:00 - Paul Cohen, Top Rank Records, and Decca Records;
37:40 - Boots Randolph, Floyd Cramer, Hank Garland;
40:51 - Royalties;
42:10 - Recording with Floyd Soileau;
45:48 - Defining swamp pop;
Interview with Joe Barry
Interview with Benny Graeff (cont.):
00:15 - Favorite songs;
00:25 - Clint West, Clinton Guillory;
01:57 - Cookie and the Cupcakes;
02:07 - Jerry LaCroix;
02:20 - Boogie Kings;
04:40 - The future of swamp pop;
04:42 - Kenny Thibodeaux and the Jokers;
05:22 - Radio stations;
06:15 - Corporate music - cutting off local music everywhere;
08:20 - Blue Runners;
09:17 - Wayne Toups;
09:38 - Elvis Presley;
09:40 - British invasion;
10:37 - Jeff Pollard;
11:10 - Royalties;
12:22 - CD production and the music industry;
12:50 - Red Beans and Rice;
12:55 - Victor Palmer, Ronnie Palmer;
13:14 - Zachary Richard;
13:20 - Bruce McDonald;
13:23 - Beausoleil members;
14:28 - Olin John "Leroy" Evans;
14:40 - Lawrence Walker;
15:10 - Designing art for Festivals Acadiens;
15:30 - Working with Floyd Soileau;
16:26 - Working with Victor Palmer;
16:30 - Dockside Studios, DKS Records;
17:30 - Steve Nails;
20:00 - Defining Swamp Pop
Interview with Joe Barry [24:24]
24:30 - Fans;
25:20 - Freddy Fender;
26:00 - Band at Angola, running into Freddy Fender;
27:20 - Joe Long, Huey Meaux;
27:40 - Selling out gigs in New Orleans;
29:45 - Jayne Mansfield, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman;
30:21 - Touring the world;
31:14 - Rockin' Rolland;
31:25 - John Broven;
32:08 - Ethnic mafias;
33:25 - Playing in Vegas;
33:46 - Louis Prima;
35:05 - Making trouble in San Antonio;
36:40 - Destroying hotel rooms;
40:26 - Family background;
42:28 - Musicians in the family;
42:48 - Vin Bruce, "French music";
43:15 - Lee Martin;
43:40 - Musical influences;
44:48 - Boxing;
46:45 - Definition of swamp pop;
Interview with Joe Barry (cont.) and Ned Theall
Interview with Joe Barry (cont.):
00:30 - Musical influences - Gospel music, Ray Charles;
01:00 - Learning guitar - Joe's brother gave him his first guitar;
02:10 - Joe says he took music theory classes at UCLA, never graduated;
03:45 - Formation of "The Delphis." Joe talks about the origin of the name;
04:40 - "I'm a Fool to Care;"
06:00 - Cutting other songs with Floyd Soileau;
09:30 - Mercury Records licensing "I'm a Fool to Care" Floyd couldn't keep up with pressing demands, so he got Mercury to release it on Smash Records;
12:00 - Money woes;
15:00 - Quitting the business, went back to working in the oilfield;
15:30 - Moved back to Nashville and started doing session work;
17:40 - Talking about his first session at Bradley's Barn in Nashville, cut 6 sides - "Chantilly Lace," "I Started Loving You Again," "Ode to a Woman," "Always," "I'm Feeling Blue Again;"
20:00 - Business woes and quitting the business again;
22:30 - Made an album with ABC. The company was sold within six weeks of the album release and lost the momentum on i
23:30 - Talks about his gospel album and starting a ministry;
25:15 - Quit preaching;
26:30 - Health and money issues - Had a heart attack and lived in his house with no power or running water. He tried his best to keep a positive outlook;
27:40 - Had five bypass surgeries, his house burned down, and his mom passed away all around the same time;
29:00 - Working on a new album and maintaining total ownership and control;
30:00 - Discussing the future of Swamp Pop;
31:30 - Defining Swamp Pop - "Singing about life;"
33:00 - Joe's favorite Swamp Pop tunes - "This Should Go on Forever," "Irene," "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," etc;
38:20 - Interview with Ned Theall;
38:50 - Founding of The Boogie Kings - Started in 1956 as a four piece band - Douglas Ardoin, Bert Miller, Norris Badeau, Brian Leger;
39:40 - Joined the band in 1963 - Clint West and G.G. Shin were the singers at that point;
41:00 - Talking about the band splitting and the two groups both using the same name. They went to court, Ned won and was able to continue using the name;
44:00 - Out of state gigs in the mid-late 60s;
45:20 - Four phases of The Boogie Kings;
Interview with Ned Theall and Lil' Bob
Interview with Ned Theall (cont.):
00:07 - Splitting profits;
00:55 - Putting on a show;
01:10 - Story about sitting in with Rod Bernard;
02:40 - Charles Bourgeois;
03:00 - Band rivalry;
03:50 - "Blue-eyed soul";
03:58 - Tour with the Righteous Brothers;
04:28 - Defining the Boogie Kings as Rhythm and Blues;
05:59 - Evolution of the Boogie Kings;
06:03 - Fats Domino;
06:05 - Little Richard;
06:11 - James Brown;
06:28 - Otis Redding;
06:37 - Backing up for other artists (Margo White, Buffalo Springfield);
07:00 - Name change to American Soul Train;
08:30 - Clint West leaving the band;
08:55 - Royalties;
10:09 - "Fabulous Boogie Kings;"
10:30 - recording for Rocko label, Skip Stewart;
11:20 - "Tell it like it is," Aaron Neville;
11:45 - Stan Lewis;
13:10 - First Boogie Kings album;
13:57 - J. D. Miller;
14:03 - Johnnie Allen;
14:09 - Warren Storm;
14:45 - Defining Swamp Pop - "White Soul Music";
15:05 - Musical influences in Louisiana;
15:48 - Personal musical influences, jazz;
16:03 - Dixieland Jazz;
16:35 - Rock 'n Roll starting in LA, Rod Bernard, Bobby Charles, Roy Perkins;
18:37 - The Cardinals and Bobby Charles;
19:35 - Fats Domino;
20:09 - Cookie and the Cupcakes;
20:20 - Swamp pop standards;
22:00 - Bobby Bland;
22:27 - Ray Charles;
23:00 - Future of the Boogie Kings;
Interview with Lil' Bob [26:28]:
26:43 - Personal background;
27:07 - Musical background;
27:40 - Good Rockin' Bob;
27:48 - Starting his own band and his radio show;
29:34 - Cookie and the Cupcakes;
30:05 - "Little One," "Take It Easy Katy";
30:17 - Katy Webster;
31:30 - Louisiana music traditions;
32:42 - Touring overseas;
34:15 - Recording then and now;
35:23 - Overseas interest in Louisiana music;
35:35 - Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Johnnie Allen;
36:30 - Working with newer local talent to go overseas;
37:45 - Floyd Soileau;
38:26 - "I Got Loaded," Los Lobos, and getting credit;
39:40 - Benefit for Chick Vidrine;
44:14 - Local gigs;
44:52 - Jake Graffignino, Decca label;
Interview with Buddy King
Interview with Buddy King:
00:00 - FM radio;
01:20 - Working at different radio stations around Louisiana;
03:45 - Became music director at radio station in Alexandria. Played "Sweet Dreams;" a year or so before it became popular;
04:30 - Seeing the Boogie Kings live at a small lounge in Alexandria. Tommy McClain gave him the test pressing of "Sweet Dreams" to play on the station
09:00 - "Breaking records" and getting credit. Lafayette as a test market for records; Gauging success of a record;
11:00 - Determining airtime for a record;
13:30 - Using the local market to determine what to play, not going strictly by what is selling nationally;
14:30 - R&R Magazine, more on determining airtime of a record;
17:30 - Passing up on a chance to work in Lafayette, eventually left Alexandria for a job in Waco, TX
20:20 - Eventually moved back to Lafayette to be closer to family;
20:50 - Songs that he broke - "Wooly Bully," "Rag Doll," "How Do You Do," "VooDoo Woman,"
21:20 - Playing The Beatles in the early 60s;
28:45 - Figuring out what listeners like; Trying new songs that might not necessarily be on people radar;
31:15 - Swamp Pop records - Bobby Charles, Charles Mann
32:00 - Boss format radio - Popular radio format that specialized in mostly music;
35:00 - Joining KROF in Abbeville - Regaining listeners;
35:40 - Charles Mann - "Red Red Wine;"
36:55 - Problems with management at KVOL;
39:30 - "Living, eating, sleeping radio and music;"
44:15 - Personal background;
Interview with Buddy King (cont.) and Bobby Charles
Interview with Buddy King (cont.):
00:47 - Getting into radio with Larry Hargrove;
03:39 - Heritage- Native American, Spanish, and Irish;
04:38 - Evolution of the name "Buddy King";
08:52 - Musical preferences and influences;
09:03 - Elvis Presley;
09:43 - Bon Jovi;
09:55 - Mamou;
10:45 - trading a gun for a guitar;
11:11 - Musicians in the family;
12:49 - Gospel music;
13:09 - Hank Williams;
15:05 - Rufus Jagneaux;
16:47 - Floyd Soileau;
19:33 - Gold records;
19:40 - Yes, "Roundabout";
20:09 - Helping out local folks;
21:07 - Working as a music director and as a promoter;
22:47 - Defining Swamp Pop;
23:10 - South Louisiana;
25:48 - Life after KVOL;
26:19 - Managing Black Dog;
26:28 - oil company;
26:40 - New Iberia TV station;
26:56 - Back to radio;
Interview with Bobby Charles (Abbeville, LA) [30:41]:
30:59 - Personal background;
31:24 - Dropping Guidry from his name;
31:58 - Speaking French;
32:50 - Musical influences;
32:56 - French music:
33:00 - Country music;
33:08 - Rhythm and blues;
33:21 - Writing songs;
34:00 - Musical instincts;
34:19 - Willie Nelson, Neil Young;
35:17 - Taping songs;
37:30 - Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Hank Williams;
37:39 - Fats Domino;
37:50 - Writing for Fats;
40:04 - Meeting Fats for the first time;
40:34 - "See You Later, Alligator";
41:00 - Writing for Fats;
43:23 - Chuck Berry;
43:58 - Jazz influence;
44:54 - Dixieland jazz;
45:30 - Royalties;
46:00 - Recording with Neil Young and Willie Nelson;
Interview with Bobby Charles (cont.)
Interview with Bobby Charles (cont.):
01:30 - "One-eyed Jack" - inspiration behind the song;
01:50 - Wrote a song for Elvis Presley - Chess didn't want to send the song to Elvis
02:20 - Meeting Elvis in Memphis at a theatre;
03:15 - Recording "See You Later, Alligator;" and "On Bended Knee;"
04:50 - Performing songs with Dave Bartholomew;
06:50 - Woodstock, NY - recording and living there;
10:00 - Discussing his approach to songwriting;
11:10 - First time in Chicago meeting Leonard Chess. Chess thought Bobby was black based on how he sounded over the phone;
13:55 - Getting ripped off by Jewel/Paula Records; Crooks in the music business;
15:30 - Discussing how Louisiana is/was one of the centers for musical talent;
16:10 - Radio stations rejecting local artists;
18:20 - Bobby mentions that he never worked with J.D. Miller;
19:00 - Bobby doesn't consider himself a musician, he considers himself a songwriter. He says he never knows what kind of song is going to come out next;
20:40 - Inspiration for a song - Could be a phrase that somebody says or a quick note that is played on a guitar
21:20 - Bobby wrote a song called "String of Hearts" that was inspired by the houseplant of the same name;
22:25 - Dr. John called Bobby to help him write a song. Dr. John wasn't able to get past the first line.
23:00 - Defining Swamp Pop; discussing how they hate the moniker:
28:00 - Discussing regaining publishing rights to his songs and having other artists record his songs;
29:05 - Rice and Gravy label;
30:00 - Bobby says there's no respect for musicians within Louisiana;
33:40 - "Walking to New Orleans" - promotes Louisiana tourism, but it isn't appreciated;
34:30 - Bobby plays songs for interviewer. Bobby Charles the environmentalist;
43:30 - The music business - It's tough to make it as a full-time musician in Lafayette;
Interview with Bobby Charles (cont.)
DUPLICATE
Content Warning - Strong Language
Interview with Bobby Charles (cont.):
00:01 - "See You Later, Alligator";
00:28 - Zachary Richard covering his song;
01:25 - "One-eyed Jack" and inspiration behind the song;
01:45 - Writing "Yea Yea Baby" for Elvis;
02:20 - Meeting Elvis in Memphis;
02:50 - Tom Parker;
03:28 - Recording "See You Later, Alligator," performing songs with Dave Bartholomew;
05:30 - Woodstock, recording and living here;
10:20 - Song writing;
11:22 - Sounding black;
13:58 - Hub City, Stan Lewis, Jewel Records, and getting ripped off;
15:25 - Louisiana's role in the American music industry;
15:50 - Rejecting local artists;
19:00- Born an artist;
20:35 - Inspiration;
22:22 - Dr. John;
24:10 - Defining Swamp Pop;
25:50 - Fats Domino and the triplet piano style;
26:44 - Roy Perkins;
27:15 - Cosimo Matassa's studio;
28:00 - Interest in music;
28:20 - Getting publishing rights back to songs he wrote;
29:03 - Rice and Gravy label;
29:40 - No respect within Louisiana;
32:30 - Solution to pollution;
33:39 - "Walking to New Orleans" - promotes Louisiana tourism, but it isn't appreciated;
34:35 - Plays songs for interviewer;
36:50 - Bobby Charles the environmentalist;
41:27 - "See You Later, Alligator";
42:15 - The business of music;
45:30 - Politics;
Interviews with Warren Storm and Benny Graeff
Interview with Warren Storm (cont.):
00:30 - Defining Swamp Pop - says Louisiana drummers have a different feel - stronger backbeat;
01:50 - Drumming techniques - learned from Charlie Williams, his daddy, and other New Orleans musicians;
02:15 - Drumming Style of New Orleans;
02:30 - Musical roots - His dad played guitar, harmonica, fiddle, drums, no other family members played anything;
03:30 - Was in Cypress from 1980-1987, Bad Weather was in the late 80s;
03:50 - Yesterday's Band - Warren Storm and Thomas Blaine;
05:00 - Future of Swamp Pop - in demand and more appreciated on the West Coast and England;
06:30 - Swamp Pop Standards - "Mathilda," "This Should Go On Forever," "Prisoner Song," etc;
09:05 - Interview with Benny Graeff - June 24, 1991 - At Graeff's office on Jefferson Street in Lafayette;
09:50 - Golden years of Swamp Pop - Started in 1955 and came to a close in the early 70s;
11:30 - Lived with his grandmother who didn't speak English in his early years while his dad was in the service;
12:20 - Origins of the name "Rufus Jagneaux;"
16:20 - Writing Songs - "Opelousas Sostan," "Port Barre;"
20:30 - Family Information - Related to Wayne Toups;
22:00 - Some stations didn't want to play "Opelousas Sostan;"
24:45 - His grandmother taught him words to some traditional Cajun tunes. These songs stuck with him;
25:30 - Musical influences;
29:45 - Playing music in Japan - Band was called "The Disasters," - Played for teen dances and a musical instrument manufacturer (Diatone);
32:20 - Learning to play music - Says his parents were very supportive of his musical persuits;
34:20 - Jukeboxes
36:30 - Never made a full album with Rufus Jagneaux;
37:30 - Says there were negative feelings towards the band with other musicians from the area;
38:50 - Discussion about Barry Ancelet, Clifton Chenier;
41:00 - Jay's Lounge;
41:40 - They opened for ZZ Top at Liberty Hall in Houston;
42:10 - Willie Purple's club on Pinhook;
43:30 - Bruce McDonald;
45:30 - Considers "Opelousas Sostan" a Swamp Pop song
Interview with Bobby Charles (cont.); Skip Stewart; and T.K. Hulin
Interview with Bobby Charles (cont.):
French song - "Champs Élysée" Bobby mentions that he's been to Paris, but never went to the Champs Élysée;
02:20 - Interview with Skip Stewart;
02:30 - Changing name from Guillory to Stewart (1959) when he was with The Twisters. Their manager suggested something easier to pronounce
04:00 - Early solo recordings for Jin and La Louisiane;
04:50 - "Take Her Back" Written by Rod Bernard
05:15 - Forming The Shondells; Warren Storm was working at Romero's Music in New Iberia when they approached him about joining the band. Rod Bernard came up with the name;
09:00 - The Shondells first gig at the Southern Club;
11:55 - Drug use within the band - Skip wanted to avoid them. Talking about eventually leaving the band to focus on his family;
13:10 - Stan Lewis - Owner of Jewel, Paula, Ron Records;
15:30 - Joining the Boogie Kings - First gig at a Catholic Church in Elton in 1957;
18:30 - Swing Kings - Albert Miller formed the band after the Boogie Kings broke up;
21:00 - Session work with Carol Rachou, Jay Miller, Floyd Soileau;
25:00 - Defining Swamp Pop;
27:30 - Musical influences - ;
30:30 - Musicians in the family - Skips Dad, Maurice Guillory, was an accomplished Cajun fiddler;
32:00 - Personal history;
33:00 - Becoming a DJ
35:55 - Interview with T.K. Hulin;
36:00 - Getting the nickname T.K. - Came from his uncle who gave he and his siblings nicknames;
37:30 - Early recordings - "I'm Not a Fool" released in 1964, Mercury picked the record up;
38:20 - T.K. plays drums, bass, guitar, mentions that he never wrote any songs;
39:00 - True to R&B; Musical influences were Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Sam Cooke;
39:30 - Defining Swamp Pop -"Mixture of Louisiana Music and R&B"
40:45 - Personal information - Born in Saint Martinville in 1944; Was a farmer in his early days. Couldn't go on American Bandstand due to crop harvest;
42:20 - Cajun music revival;
43:10 - The Lonely Knights - formed in 1959, His dad owned the LK Label with Robert Thibodeaux;
44:30 - Interview with Clint West;
44:30 - The split of The Boogie Kings - Ned Theall's group kept the name, Clint changed his band to The Fabulous Kings;
Interviews with Clint West, Bert Miller, Barbara Lynn
Interview with Clint West at the Southern Club:
00:17 - Stage name - Real name is Clinton Guillory
00:40 - Early bands - The Rollercoasters; Red Smiley and the Vel-tones, Too Too and the Diamonds;
02:45 - "Big Blue Diamonds" and Little Willie John;
03:20 - "Mr. Jeweler;"
04:08 - Musical influences - Loved French music, specifically Nathan Abshire, Clint plays accordion, as well. Also Fats Domino, Little Richard;
05:13 - Defining Swamp Pop - "Combination of Rock 'n Roll and Country Music;"
06:15 - Musicians in the family - Parents looked down on him becoming a career musician. He says many of his relatives were musically inclined, but never pursued it;
07:24 - He's only ever been a musician. Clint tells a story about getting fired from his first job;
07:45 - Born in Ville Platte in 1938
08:15 - Interview with Bert Miller at the Southern Club:
08:24 - Stage name - "Bert Miller;"
08:40 - The Boogie Kings - Was a trio when the band first started;
08:56 - Doug Ardoin and Harris Miller;
09:37 - Formation of The Swing Kings;
10:40 - Playing rhythm and blues;
11:16 - "Blue-eyed Soul;"
11:50 - "Lost Love;" Shane mentions that Bert was imitating Fats Domino;
12:35 - "Southland;" - Rockabilly style tune that was the flip-side to "Lost Love;"
12:54 - Musical influences - Joe Turner, BB King, Otis Redding;
13:37 - Defining Swamp Pop - Mentions they'd learn Johnnie Allan, Warren Storm, etc tunes that were popular at the time, to play live;
14:55 - Birthplace and year;
15:03 - Current profession - Medical Technologist;
16:35 - Interview with Barbara Lynn at Podnah's Club, Saint Martinville:
17:15 - Name pronunciation;
17:30 - Personal history;
18:04 - Musicians in the family - Has a son who she mentions is going into Rap music, also has an uncle who sings in the church choir;
19:29 - Wanted to learn to play guitar because of Elvis, also played piano;
21:05 - Women playing the guitar;
22:10 - Musical influences - Elvis Presley, Guitar Slim, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Etta James;
23:07 - First worked with Huey Meaux after being discovered by Joe Barry;
23:47 - Working with Leroy Martin at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans;
25:30 - Working with Huey Meaux;
26:30 - Hit songs, "You'll Lose a Good Thing" made it to number 1 on multiple charts
27:10 - Teardrop Label, Jamie Records;
27:28 - First song - "Dina and Petrina"
28:10 - Other record labels she signed to;
28:56 - Other jobs besides music;
29:00 - Going to California;
29:48 - Recent releases with Ichiban Records;
30:40 - Defining Swamp Pop;
32:40 - Racial issues - Performing in white clubs - Mentions that she hasn't had many issues;
34:06 - Royalty issues. They discuss King Karl not receiving royalties for "This Should Go On Forever;";
35:15 - Live recording of The Fabulous Boogie Kings and Dr. John;
36:10 - Instrumental;
39:07 - "Hold On;"
Interview with Huey Meaux
00:15 - Personal history - Born in Wright, LA between Kaplan and Gueydan, Father was Stanislaus Meaux (sharecropping rice farmer and accordion player);
02:10 - Musicians in the family - Huey's aunt was Theresa Falcon;
03:15 - Moved to Winnie, Texas when he was 12;
04:15 - Crazy Cajun radio show/records;
05:00 - "Pioneers of the music business;"
06:00 - Early hits "Breaking Up is Hard to do," "This Should Go On Forever;"
06:30 - Managing Jivin' Gene, promoting various artists recordings;
09:00 - J. P. Richardson - "Chantilly Lace;"
09:10 - Floyd Soileau - JIN records;
10:25 - Commentary on John Broven's book;
11:45 - Joe Barry and Rockin' Sidney;
12:15 - Promoting records;
12:50 - Traveling with Joe Barry to Harlem;
13:45 - Defining Swamp Pop/South Louisiana Music;
17:00 - Recording Freddy Fender;
18:15 - Jimmy Donley;
22:00 - "I'm Leaving it up to You;"
22:20 - Record labels - Crazy Cajun, Teardrop, Jetstream, etc;
23:00 - Payola;
25:00 - Buying rights for songs;
27:45 - Sugarhill Studios;
29:00 - Current projects - Getting songs used in movies;
30:00 - Barbara Lynn;
31:30 - Catching up on family news;
Interview with Little Alfred, Charles Mann, and John Fred
Interview with Little Alfred:
00:32 - Broven's book;
00:56 - Personal history;
01:24 - His cousin Simon Lubin starts Cookie and the Cupcakes;
02:00 - time in Cookie and the Cupcakes;
02:20 - The Berry Cups;
02:59 - Chick Vidrine story;
04:08 - Musical influences- Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke;
04:50 - Swamp Pop vs. South Louisiana R&B;
06:05 - Early experiences with music;
06:50 - The Clovers;
07:10 - The Cupcakes;
07:55 - "Twisted;"
09:55 - Stan Lewis;
10:15 - Performing in white clubs - racial tensions;
12:07 - Cookie;
12:38 - Racial tensions/provocations;
16:05 - Friendship between artists;
17:00 - American Soul Train - "Can You Dig It"
Interview with Charles Mann [18:48]:
19:10 - Real name;
19:24 - Birthplace and year;
20:03 - Musical history - family, heritage;
20:17 - Speaking French;
29:50 - Musical influences- Johnnie Allan, Rod Bernard, Gene Bourgeois, Glenn Wells;
21:56 - Dizzy Richard;
22:15 - The Eltradors;
22:48 - Playing around Louisiana;
23:49 - First record;
24:10 - "Keep Your Arms Around Me," O.B. McClinton;
25:21 - "You're No Longer Mine";
25:50 - "Red Red Wine";
26:37 - Buddy King;
27:12 - 1970s;
27:26 - "My Kind of Girl," William Bell;
27:54 - 1980s;
28:10 - Muscle Shoals studio;
28:40 - "Walk of Life";
28:46 - Touring England;
29:38 - English fans;
30:50 - English eating habits;
31:35 - "Walk of Life";
33:28 - Swamp Pop;
34:25 - French music in England;
36:20 - Tom McLaine;
37:00 - Bobby Charles;
Interview with John Fred [38:00]:
Content Warning: Racial Slur
38:30 - Whole name;
38:47 - Musical influences - Les Paul, Mary Ford, Frankie Lane, Fats Domino, Smiley Louis, Jimmy Reed;
42:00 - First band;
44:00- Race music;
44:26 - Sports - father's baseball past;
45:20 - Playing recreation halls
Interview with Huey Meaux [47:00];
47:14 - Family history;
48:30 - Musicians in the family;
Interview with John Fred (cont.)
Interview with John Fred (cont.):
00:15 - Local gigs with The Playboys in the late 50s;
01:00 - "Shirley" - Recording the song at Cosimo's for Sam Montelbano of Montel Records
02:00 - Studio musicians for the "Shirley" session using Fats Domino's band;
02:30 - Meeting Fats Domino;
04:00 - Montelbano's advice - adding Fred's name to the band name;
05:30 - Studying education and history in college, would still play music in the summertime;
06:00 - 1963 - The new Playboys recorded "Boogie Chillin'" with Carol Rachou;
07:00 - Stan Lewis leased "Boogie Chillin'" on Jewel/Paula Records
08:00 - Recording "Agnes English" and "Judy in Disguise;" which sold 10 million copies and went #1 around the world;
08:35 - Meeting Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison and discussing the Beatles' love of south LA music;
15:40 - Meeting Elvis Presley;
18:50 - Meeting and touring with Jimi Hendrix in 1969;
20:00 - Touring with other famous bands - Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, Box Tops, Sly and the Family Stone, etc
21:20 - Les Paul's influence;
24:20 - Bobby Charles' songs;
25:10 - Writing and recording "Judy in Disguise;"
30:50 - Using a horn section;
31:30 - Playboys line up;
44:30 - Alan Fried - Commercialization of the term "rock 'n roll;"
32:30 - G. G. Shin, Tommy McClain, Relations with other artists;
34:10 - Jobs outside of the band - Worked for RCS Records;
36:45 - Says he doesn't identify as Swamp Pop Musician - More R&B and pop;
37:30 - Boogie Kings - John says they were cocky and didn't necessarily create anything new;
42:00 - Labeling artists as "Swamp Pop;"
Interview with John Fred (cont.) and Tommy McLain
Interview with John Fred (cont.):
00:30 – Discussion of other interviews conducted;
01:10 – Best wishes;
Interview with Tom McLain [01:46]:
02:05 - Personal history - birthplace, hometown, high school;
02:47 – Jerry Lee Lewis, Howard K. Smith, Jimmy Swaggart;
03:00 - Early experiences playing music;
05:06 – Little Richard, Larry Williams, Fats Domino;
05:30 – Hank Williams, Ernest Tubbs, Grand Ole Opry;
05:50 – Meeting Ray Price, Bob Wills at the E & E Night Club;
06:12 – Al Ferrier;
06:45 – J. D. Miller;
07:04 – The Pelican Club, The Starlighters;
07:35 – Clint West, playing with Red Smiley and the Bell Tones;
09:00 – Freddy Fender and the Carousel Club;
09:45 - Jack Arnold and the Flames;
10:08 - Touring military bases;
10:58 - Playing with Clint West and the Roller Coasters;
11:35 - Playing bass guitar;
13:40 - Giving up music;
13:57 - Getting back into the business;
14:00 - Leroy's lounge;
15:20 – Buddy King;
15:32 - Cutting a record;
15:40 - "Sweet Dreams”;
16:12 – story about the master tape;
18:18 - Joining The Boogie Kings and working with Clint West;
18:40 - Recording for Floyd Soileau;
20:57 - Huey Meaux;
22:10 - Success of "Sweet Dreams”;
22:32 – Carla Thomas;
23:15 – The Smothers Brothers, The Yardbirds, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant;
25:08 – Huey going to jail, trouble with pills;
26:40 - Smitty Smith saves McLain;
27:25 - Back with Huey Meaux;
28:00 – recording, "No Tomorrows Now”;
29:39 - Playing in Lafayette;
32:20 - Re-signing with Meaux;
33:10 - Recording with Freddy Fender;
36:55 - The Mule Train Band;
37:10 - Staying clean and finding religion;
37:50 - "The Roses”;
38:00 - Current projects;
40:50 - First guitar;
42:43 - Musical influences;
44:27 – seeing Little Richard live;
Interviews with George Khoury and Stan Lewis
Interview with George Khoury:
01:00 - Personal history - Born in 1908 or 1918 in Lake Charles;
01:28 - Early interest in music - Started in the jukebox business and opened the first Khoury's Record Shop (late 40s);
02:30 - Purchasing Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, etc records in bulk;
03:25 - Starting his first record label;
04:20 - Starting Khoury Records in the 50s. Lists some of his early hits - "Mathilda," "Sea of Love;"
05:45 - Legal problems with Phil Phillips;
06:35 - Would send masters to be pressed at ACA in Houston;
08:00 - Didn't own a studio. He always used different studios - Goldband, ACA
09:50 - Cajun records - Recorded "Pine Grove Blues." Port Arthur, TX was as far west as he'd sell French Records
10:45 - Carol Fran;
13:00 - Sea of Love was cut at Goldband, Mathilda was cut at KAOK Radio in Lake Charles
15:25 - Listing other artists he recorded
16:00 - Business dealings with J.D. Miller;
17:00 - Quitting the record business and became a deputy sheriff;
17:30 - Collecting royalties - "Sea of Love;"
19:00 - Defining Swamp Pop;
19:45 - Discussing the confusion around his birth year;
20:20 - Interview with Stan Lewis begins;
20:45 - Jukebox business, Stan's record service (handled distribution, sales, pressing)
22:15 - Working with Chess, Imperial, Specialty, Miracle;
25:00 - Wolfman Jack
26:00 - Mail order record business;
29:00 - Stan's One Stop - distributing records
32:30 - Bobby Charles was his first artist to record;
33:30 - Working with other local record labels;
36:25 - Enjoy label;
36:50 - John Fred and the Playboys;
40:20 - Various labels started - Jewel, Paula, Ronn, Cobra, Chief, Twilight;
41:15 - The Uniques;
41:30 - Cookie and the Cupcakes, Johnny Janot, The Boogie Kings, Skip Stewart, etc.;
42:30 - "Judy in Disguise" was his biggest hit - Royalties, Publishing
43:40 - Personal info - Born on 7/5/1927 in Shreveport
44:10 - Entrance into the music business;
Comments on the Music Industry;
interview with Eddie Shuler
Interview With Eddie Shuler:
00:00 - South Louisiana sound, Bobby Charles;
02:57 - Researchers come to Louisiana;
03:00 - Mike Leadbetter bringing Cajun Music to England;
08:07 - Introduction to French music;
09:20 - Moving to Louisiana during World War II;
10:20 - Joining a band;
13:00 – Savoy's Club;
14:57 - Hackberry Ramblers;
15:50 – Folkstar Records;
15:58 - Goldband Records;
16:11 – Radio show;
17:25 – All Star Reveliers;
17:44 - Iry Lejeune;
21:09 - Recording Lejeune;
23:29 - "Calcasieu Waltz,” “The Evangeline Special”;
25:10 - Finding distribution;
25:30 - Self distribution;
31:41 - Aldus Roger;
33:30 - Artists recorded;
33:55 - Port Naches Playboys;
36:15 - Country music - difference between Country Western and Western Swing music;
37:34 - Hank Williams - Hillbilly Music and Country Music;
38:34 - Recording Dolly Parton - Robert Owen, "Puppy Love" and "Girl Left Alone”;
45:10 - Freddy Fender;
Interview with Eddie Shuler (cont.)
Interview with Eddie Shuler (cont.):
01:00 - Story about Freddy Fender being arrested in Baton Rouge for possession of Marijuana seeds - was sentenced to 5 years;
02:00 - Talking with the penitentiary about Freddy being let out on work release to record albums;
03:40 - Building a studio inside of the jail food storage warehouse; Backing musicians were other prisoners;
06:00 - Releasing of Freddy's prison recordings;
07:30 - Al Ferrier;
10:00 - Brian Ferrier played at the Louisiana Hayride;
10:25 - Johnny Janot;
12:10 - Gene Terry - "Cindy Lou;"
14:10 - Cookie and the Cupcakes;
14:55 - Yellow Jacket Band;
15:50 - Little Billy Earl - Dolly Parton's uncle;
16:45 - Clarence Garlow;
19:10 - Elton Anderson - "I Love You";
23:40 - Guitar Jr., Katie Webster, Barbara Lynn, ;
25:30 - Katie Webster getting out from her recording contract with J.D. Miller;
26:30 - Producing Phil Phillips' "Sea of Love"
32:50 - Cleveland Crochet
33:05 - Other labels owned by Shuler - Folkstar, Goldband, TEK, Jador, Anla, Tic-Toc;
34:00 - Personal history - Born in Wrightsboro, TX, March 27, 1913;
35:30 - Musical influences - learning to play the saxophone;
37:00 - K-MAR and TEK Publishing;
39:00 - Current projects - Mickey Newman, Cari Gregory,;
40:00 - Studio equipment - Studer 24 Track, DNR Console, Ampex tape recorders;
41:30 - Gene Terry and the Downbeats - "Cindy Lou;"
41:50 - Shuler's sound;
44:30 - More on J. D. Miller;
46:00 - New releases on CD;
Interviews with Eddie Shuler (cont.), Tommy McLain (cont.), Phil Philips
Interview with Eddie Shuler (cont.):
00:00 - South Louisiana sound - Swamp Pop;
01:10 - Missed opportunities - Rod Bernard, Big Bopper, King Karl;
04:00 - Interview with Tommy McLain (cont.);
04:20 - Popularity of Bluegrass in Louisiana;
05:30 - Happy Fats, Clint West
06:00 - Defining Swamp Pop;
09:30 - Elvis Costello's cover of "Sweet Dreams;"
10:20 - Popularity of Swamp Pop in England;
13:00 - Jimmy Donley;
13:30 - "Sweet Dreams" - became popular due to being played in Jukeboxes
18:58 - Interview with Phil Philips;
19:20 - Born in Lake Chalres, March 14, 1931
20:00 - Early experience with music;
21:30 - Selling sheet music;
22:47 - Musical family - Phil's dad wrote music, passed away in the 40s. His mother was a really good singer;
24:40 - Phil plays guitar and sings;
28:00 - Gateway Quartet;
29:00 - First recording project;
29:30 - Writing and recording "Sea of Love;"
31:00 - Getting "Sea of Love" played on the radio - KPLC;
33:00 - Meeting Sam Cooke and his manager
33:45 - Recording "Sea of Love" - recorded by Eddie Shuler for George Khoury's label. Cookie and the Cupcakes were the backup band;
37:40 - Real name has one "L" in Philips, stage name has two - Phillips;
38:30 - Legal problems with George Khoury;
42:30 - KMAR Publishing;
42:45 - Recording for Lee Lavergne at Muscle Shoals;
43:30 - Was a Radio DJ for KJEL in Jennings between hits;
44:30 - "King of the whole blasted world;"
45:30 - Musical influences - Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller;
Interview with Phil Philips (cont.) and Sam Montalbano
Interview with Phil Philips (cont.):
00;00 - Musical influences;
03:00 - Defining Swamp Pop;
05:30 - Racial tensions - playing at white clubs versus black clubs;
11:20 - Preaching and religious beliefs
19:50 - Interview with Sam (S.J.) Montalbano;
20:20 - Name pronunciation and change to Sam Montel for industry purposes;
21:00 - Personal history - Born on February 8, 1937, owned a fruit stand early on;
22:10 - Entry into the music business; 4TA Club
23:15 - Meeting Jimmy Clanton;
26:10 - Playing rock 'n roll;
31:15 - First record on Montel - Lester Robinson;
33:00 - Tour managing for Jimmy Clanton
36:15 - Lester Robinson;
37:45 - John Fred "Shirley;"
38:00 - CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) Teen Dances;
39:45 - Story about Lester Robinson going to Havana, Cuba;
43:00 - Red Stick Publishing Company;
43:30 - Other labels he owned - Michelle, Stephanie, Debbie labels named after his daughters;
44:45 - John Fred changing labels;
45:35 - Use of other studios - Recorded Dale and Grace at La Louisiane
Interview with Sam Montalbano (cont.) and Grace Broussard
Interview with Sam Montalbano (cont.):
00:10 - 1968 - Selling his recording studio
03:15 - Montel Studio became Deep South Studio, only sold physical equipment, not the masters;
04:30 - Floyd Soileau had distribution rights to The Boogie Kings;
05:30 - Johnny Vincent - ACE Records, Cosimo Matassa;
07:45 - Boogie Kings split and lawsuit - mainly worked with Ned Theall's version of the band;
13:44 - Sam spent three years at USL from 1956-1958
14:55 - Sam speaks about Rod Bernard's importance to the LA music scene;
17:30 - Interview with Grace Broussard;
17:45 - Personal history - born in 1939 in Prairieville, LA;
18:15 - Musical family members - brothers and sister both sing, her grandfather played fiddle;
19:45 - Started singing professionally at 16 - Van and Grace;
20:30 - Musical influences - Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Irma Thomas;
22:50 - First recording of "I'm Leaving it up to You" with Jay Chevalier
23:30 - Getting started performing with Dale Houston;
26:20 - "Leavin' it all up to You" becoming a hit - Performing on the Dick Clark Tour;
27:50 - Backing group - Junior Hebert on bass, Kenny Gill on Guitar, Dale Houston on piano, she says she can't remember everyone;
29:35 - Grace says that her and Dale never got along well. He didn't show up for a performance in New York and she had to perform herself;
31:50 - Shane asks who wrote "Stop and Think it Over" - Jay Graffanino or Jay Randall;
33:50 - Broven's term "Swamp Pop." Grace said they used to call the genre Bayou Boogie;
36:15 - Zydeco music
39:00 - Van Broussard tour with Carl Perkins;
39:55 - Awards - Gold Record, Louisiana Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award;
42:40 - Floyd Soileau releasing Van and Grace's songs on a compilation CD; Royalties issues;
Interview with Rod Bernard
01:01 - musicians in the family;
01:30 - first guitar;
03:18 - broadcast from the feed store;
05:31 - radio show;
07:05 - DJ;
09:22 - slot machines;
10:34 - The Twisters;
12:45 - recording with Floyd Soileau;
13:59 - "This Should go on Forever";
16:51 - leasing the song to Chess Records;
17:40 - a hit song;
18:21 - promotional tour;
18:59 - American Bandstand controversy;
21:29 - on the road;
22:24 - Bill Hall & contract with Mercury;
24:36 - collaborations;
27:28 - second hit;
29:17 - King Karl;
30:35 - payola;
33:52 - recording with Jake Graffagnino;
36:30 - south Louisiana songs/sound;
40:08 - "Sometimes" & "Colinda";
41:15 - Marines;
44:06 - "Colinda";
46:17 - Nashville sound
Interview with Rod Bernard (cont.) and Roy Perkins
Interview with Rod Bernard (cont.):
00:10 - Rod says he wishes he would've stayed performing Country Music in the 50s;
01:45 - Leaving Mercury Records;
03:30 - The Shondells - Rod was working with Skip Stewart in the early 60s at KVOL and decided to start the band with Warren Storm;
04:10 - The Shondells started playing Saturday nights at the Southern Club; Talks about other local gigs they'd play;
06:20 - Country Music comeback - Rod mentions loving George Jones, Merle Haggard, Elvis, Tom Jones;
07:10 - Going to Graceland;
11:00 - Trading tapes with George Cline;
12:00 - Rod met Hank Williams when he played at the Opelousas High School gymnasium - got autographs from the band;
14:00 - Rod saw a doctor giving Hank shots during the show - didn't realize at the time that they were drugs;
15:50 - Rod tells a story about playing Chuck Berry's guitar and took his guitar pick;
16:20 - Performing with Jerry Lee Lewis in Corpus Christi, TX;
18:10 - Jerry Lee's band used Rod's band's instruments for a show in California without their permission. Kenny "Gill" Guillot didn't want anyone to touch his guitar, Jerry Lee wanted to fight him after the show;
20:20 - Rod says he and Jerry Lee became friends but once he started having drug issues, they became distant;
21:10 - Shows with James Brown in California;
21:55 - Tour with Frankie Avalon;
29:15 - Jerry Lee's advice - crooks in the record business;
30:50 - Rod's version of "Colinda;"
34:40 - Arbee Records;
35:20 - Swamp Pop Term;
37:05 - Interview with Roy Perkins:
37:10 - Shane talking about his thesis work, interview recording issues;
38:20 - Started playing piano at 7 years old. Early musical influences were old blues musicians;
38:50 - A family friend would sell them old records out of jukeboxes for cheap;
39:50 - Boogie woogie style - He loved the piano parts and started playing his grandmother's piano by ear;
40:40 - Born April 26 1935;
41:30 - Private Cecil Gant, Tommy Dorsey;
43:25 - Buying old rhythm and blues records in New Orleans;
44:00 - "Lordy Miss Claudie;" Fats Domino's piano part on that recording inspired Roy;
Interview with Roy Perkins (cont.) and Carol Rachou
Interview with Roy Perkins (cont.):
00:20 - "You are on my Mind;" - Recorded at Channel 2 TV Studio in New Orleans, Mel Mallory;
01:00 - "Jack the Cat" - Disc Jockey in New Orleans was shocked that Roy was white when they met;
03:50 - Jazz at the Music Mart;
05:30 - Bobby Page and the Riff Raffs, ;
08:00 - "Hearts of Stone;"
10:00 - Their version of "Jolie Blonde" on Teardrop;
13:20 - Family history - His mother was Acadian and Irish;
16:00 - Collecting records
18:15 - "Here I Am"/"You're Gone;" Backed up by a band called The Spiders - recorded in New Orleans;
20:20 - Recording at Cosimo Matassa's studio;
23:00 - Louis Jordan "Saturday Night Fish Fry;"
24:00 - Recording for Ram Records;
26:30 - Songs recorded for Carol Rachou;
28:05 - Session work for J. D. Miller - Warren Storm "Prisoner Song," Skip Stewart;
30:30 - Oilfield work in the middle east;
31:55 - Recording for Huey Meaux;
32:30 - Joining The Swing Kings - played piano and bass for them; Discussion about the Boogie Kings split;
34:35 - Boogie Kings - "Southland;"
36:20 - He always had a day job, was only a weekend muscian - worked in drafting;
37:30 - Working in the oil field; Talks about a platform explosion;
41:30 - Nickname - The Boogie Boy;
41:40 - Mercury records, Eddie Shular, Goldband Studio;
45:45 - Shelby Singelton;
Interview with Roy Perkins and Carol Rachou
Interview with Roy Perkins (cont.):
00:00 - "The Mystical Musician;"
01:30 - Preaching; religious beliefs;
07:00 - Maturing as a writer and musician, writing methods;
12:30 - Defining Swamp Pop - Doesn't care for the term, says it's more an offshoot of Rhythm and Blues;
14:50 - Family music history - no other family members play music. Talks about his grandmother's piano;
18:00 - Describing piano triplets - Fats Domino started it;
20:00 - Always considered himself more of a blues musician, says he didn't like Elvis and The Beatles intitially. Eventually got into them with Sgt. Peppers album;
21:45 - Beatles "Oh Darlin" - Has a swamp pop feel;
23:50 - Bobby Charles - people considered him a pest early on;
27:25 - Interview with Carol Rachou:
27:35 - Personal history - Born in New Orleans Dec 27, 1932;
28:05 - Moved to New Iberia when his father started working for his uncle in the oilfield trucking business, stayed there for 2 years;
29:00 - Moved to Lafayette in 1948, went to Lafayette High School;
29:50 - Attended SLI for a couple of years, but quit to open his store in 1954;
31:00 - Had a band called The Swingsters - played popular music;
33:35 - Went into music retail business in 54 - Music Mart - sold records, TVs, radios and stereos;
35:45 - First recordings made at his music store, didn't yet have the studio; The current La Louisiane Studio building was a grocery store at the time;
37:00 - Eddy "Raven" Futch worked for Carol at the retail store and studio for 10 years;
38:10 - Discussion about Eddy's stage name, his early career, and his personality;
40:30 - Closed the retail business and opened La Louisiane studio when Eddy went to Nashville in 1958;
43:00 - Jazz at the Music Mart / Jazzmar labels - Bobby Webb
Interview with Carol Rachou (cont.)
Interview with Carol Rachou (cont.):
00:30 - Carol tells a story about seeing Shane as a newborn baby;
03:30 - Drug addiction and alcoholism, prescription medication;
05:30 - More discussion about musicians doing drugs and drinking;
08:30 - Carol talks about his use of prescription drugs;
10:25 - Carol talks about his time playing gigs - mainly played sax and trumpet;
11:20 - One son, Carol Jr. plays trumpet;
13:00 - La Louisiane label - Started in 1959. "Sud de la Louisiane" was the first song they released. That's where the label name came from;
14:30 - Carol says he does speak French;
15:50 - Cajun artists recorded - Nathan Abshire, Vin Bruce, Aldus Roger, etc;
17:00 - Mel Mallory, Roy Perkins
19:00 - Talking about different people who recorded in the studio;
24:20 - Arbee Label - Started with Rod Bernard after the Shondells broke up;
28:50 - Shondells recording sessions - Carol talks about how he'd set up the studio to optimize sound;
31:00 - "Etouffée;"
31:40 - Dale and Grace - Group history and discussion about "I'm Leaving it up to You;"
39:50 - John Fred and the Playboys "Judy in Disguise;"
40:30 - Bobby Charles;
42:30 - Success of "I'm Leaving it up to You;"
43:40 - "Stop and Think it Over" Discussing who wrote it. Carol says Jay Randall wrote it;
44:35 - Lil Bob and the Lollipops; Discussing the squeaky kick drum pedal in Bob's recording;
Interview with Carol Rachou and David Rachou
00:00 - Talking more about the squeak on Lil Bob's record;
02:20 - The Boogie Kings / Swing Kings / Clint West;
05:00 - Jewell and the Rubies - "Kidnapper." They were a high school class with their teacher. Session info and story about how the song became a national hit;
12:10 - Jimmy C. Newman - "Lâche pas la patate," written by Pee Wee Trahan;
17:50 - Three gold records recorded at La Louisiane - Dale and Grace, Jimmy C. Newman, Bud Fletcher;
19:50 - Aldus Roger;
22:10 - Blackie Forestier;
24:00 - Future plans for the studio and label;
32:00 - Releasing albums for unknown vs. established acts;
36:00 - Louisiana music on the international scene;
38:00 - Warren Storm and Skip Stewart - "Etoufée;
40:00 - Safety copies
41:00 - Jay Graffanino - Shane tells a story about some of Rod Bernards recordings - Masters were lost, he found copies on 45 in a scrapbook;
Interview with Guitar Gable and Oran "Doc Guidry
Interview with Guitar Gable;
00:10 - Background information - Born August 17, 1937;
01:00 - Was playing in clubs by the time he was 16 years old - Gypsy T Room in Abbeville;
02:00 - Musicians in the family - His dad played "French Music / LaLa Music" accordion and harmonica;
03:15 - His dad would play house dances with just accordion and rubboard;
04:00 - Taught himself to play guitar when he was 12. His brother also played, but stuck to more of a blues style;
05:50 - His first recording; "Congo Mambo" - Tried working with Eddie Shuler, didn't work. So on their way back home, stopped by J.D. Milller's in Crowley;
08:30 - Bernard Jolivette;
09:25 - Says he could sing well on the bandstand but not in the studio;
10:45 - Started learning on a cheap acoustic guitar, then got a Fender. Also played on a Gretsch for a while;
12:30 - Favorite musicians - B.B. King, Earl King, Fats Domino, Guitar Slim;
13:00 - Artists he worked with - Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo, Skinny Domino, Warren Storm, Bobby Charles, Classie Ballou;
16:00 - Retiring from music after injuring his back and neck in a car accident;
16:30 - Does TV repair work;
17:15 - Last recording - session with Lynn August;
17:30 - The New Lollipops; Camille Bob;
18:15 - Gigs and Touring;
19:30 - Didn't use any special guitar tunings. Just used standard tuning;
21:00 - Other equipment used, didn't care for the tone of his Gretsch;
21:40 - Problems with J. D. Miller - Claiming credit for songs he didn't write;
24:00 - "This Should Go On Forever;" Miller has half writers credit. Gable says the only writing he did was correcting a word or two, here and there;
25:00 - Doesn't make any money or residuals from his recordings;
26:30 - Impersonators;
27:40 - Story about Miller bailing Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo out of jail. He made them record tracks for him in return;
28:40 - Story about a song being stolen from Rod Bernard "Pardon Mr. Gordon;"
31:40 - Racism - Needing escorts, using back doors, stories about issues in Henderson and Catahoula;
33:45 - Problems that Cookie had at Hick's Wagon Wheel Club;
34:15 - One of Lil Bob's musicians got arrested at the Jungle Club;
35:20 - Swamp pop/rhythm and blues - Doesn't consider his music "Swamp Pop;"
37:20 - "Colinda;" Gable says it's a really old song and talks about a few other old French songs;
38:45 - Clifton Chenier, says they played together a few times;
41:10 - Gabriel Jr. - Plays guitar with Lil Bob, Warren Caesar;
Interview with Oran "Doc" Guidry:
42:15 - Background information - Born in April 28, 1918;
43:15 - Musicians in the family - His dad played the fiddle;
44:10 - Ray Guidry is Doc's first cousin;
44:30 - Story about learning to play the fiddle - Was 12 years old;
Interview with Oran "Doc" Guidry
00:00 - Learning to play the fiddle - Used his dad's old Maggini fiddle. Doc says he'd practice in secret because his brother would get mad;
01:50 - Started gigging with Joe Fabacher and the Jolly Boys of Lafayette when he was 14;
03:15 - Lester Hoffpauir - Accordion player her played with - couldn't speak French, so he wouldn't sing. But was a wonderful player;
05:25 - Larry Brasso;
05:45 - Story about how Doc joined up with Happy Fats and the Rayne-Bo Ramblers
08:00 - Most gigs were dancehalls and in houses;
09:10 - Chaperones at dances;
10:25 - Hector Stutes - steel guitarist
11:35 - Amplification - Used a Johnson motor;
13:35 - Radio show with Happy Fats - Late 30s, Saturday mornings on KROF
14:20 - Doc says he'd play 9 timers per week, lists his schedule;
17:40 - Doc's group after leaving Happy Fats - Sons of Acadians. Happy named the band;
19:20 - First record Doc made - Dallas, TX with Joe Fabacher for Decca;
20:00 - Recording process in those days. Recording company would rent a hotel room and set up the equipment;
21:30 - They were paid up front to record, No royalties;
22:00 - Doc's brother played guitar - sold all of his instruments when he quit playing music;
23:00 - Recorded for J.D. Miller on the Fais do do label. "Never collected a dime;"
24:25 - Recording at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans for J.D. Miller;
25:45 - Doc sings a line of "La cravate;"
27:15 - "Chère Chèrie;" - Song Doc wrote and recorded. Master tape was burned in a fire;
28:45 - Decca sending Doc English tunes to translate into French;
29:45 - Recorded at the Rice Hotel in Houston;
30:10 - Meeting Jimmie Davis in Carencro when he was running for governor. Jimmy Domengeaux introduced them;
32:15 - Recording "Colinda" in Nashville at Acuff Rose with Jimmie Davis, Discussing touring with him while on the campaign trail;
36:45 - "Big Mamou;"
39:30 - Link Davis;
41:30 - Courtableu Inn - Port Barre;
43:00 - "Little Fat Man" performed in half English, half French;
45:30 - Louisiana Hayride, Jimmy C. Newman
Interview with Oran "Doc" Guidry (cont.)
00:00 - Doc saw Hank Williams perform in a high school gym - as part of Dudley LeBlanc's Hadacol tour;
01:20 - Rod Bernard saw him perform at the Yambilee Festival, mentions they could tell he was inebriated;
03:00 - Doc claims "Jambalaya" was written by Moon Mullican, Papa Cairo wrote the melody as Grand Texas;
04:45 - Studio work with Bill Houtto, Vin Bruce, Happy Fats
06:15 - Recordings made at La Louisiane - solo work, Warren Storm;
07:50 - Carol Rachou would play t-fer with bands to have an excuse to go on the road
08:45 - Discussing his performances in state department tours in Tokyo, Burma, India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia
13:40 - Buck White Band;
16:15 - Doc's wife introduces herself;
16:50 - More discussion on travels with Doc;
19:30 - Visiting the Taj Mahal;
20:20 - Story about how Happy Fats gave "Doc" his nickname;
23:30 - Discussing different versions of "Colinda;"
30:30 - Happy Fats' take on "Colinda;"
31:30 - False credit for "Colinda;"
35:40 - "Madame Young" - Dennis McGee tune, similar to Colinda's melody;
39:30 - La Louisiane re-releasing songs on c.d.;
42:30 - David Rachou taking over the La Louisiane Studio;
43:40 - Discussing Doc's health ailments
Interview with Oran "Doc" Guidry (cont.)
00:05 - Discussing Doc's health ailments with his wife;
01:45 - Doc mentions that he hasn't played his fiddle since his health started declining;
03:00 - Worked for the state starting in 1960 working with the Alcoholic Beverage Control;
03:50 - Talking about his dad's old fiddle - it was lost when someone was working on it;
06:00 - Harold Romero
07:00 - His mother gave him a fiddle from E.T. Root and Sons in Chicago - it was on display at the Chicago World's Fair
11:55 - His mom played the fiddle - she taught him "Over the Waves;"
13:30 - Interview with Pete Bergeron - talking about his Cajun musician project;
Interview with Oscar Bernard
01:00 - Born July 11, 1943,
01:15 - Rod started taking guitar lessons from their neighbor, an Army recruiter, Oscar would pick the guitar up occasionally and play on it;
03:00 - Talking about the house he grew up in. Parents told Rod that if he picked enough pecans and saved money, he could get a guitar
04:30 - Their parents eventually got a better guitar when he showed enough interest and talent;
04:50 - Poony Tatman helped them figure out what guitar to buy;
07:00 - Rod's first gig - Blue Room at a feed store;
08:50 - Oscar never toured with Rod, The farthest he went for a gig in Baton Rouge;
10:00 - Moving to Winnie, TX, would play at school talent shows;
10:30 - Huey Meaux was their barber in Winnie. At that point, Huey wasn't in the music business;
11:15 - More about the family's moves back to LA and then back to TX;
12:45 - Learning how to play the upright bass when he was in the 8th grade;
14:10 - Formation of The Twisters - Oscar eventually joined on bass, he was the youngest member;
16:00 - First gig with them was at the community center in Egan;
18:00 - Mischievous things they'd do - Bought some cherry bomb fireworks and would put them into a mailbox;
20:30 - Story about leaving Church Point, running late for a gig. Drove around in a circle and ended up back in Church Point;
22:30 - Skip Stuart; The Original Boogie Kings; The Flames;
26:20 - Auditioning for a job at the Original Pat's in Henderson; Pat didn't like the trombone in their band;
27:00 - Oscar had a knack for leaning to play instruments quickly;
29:00 - High School Band - Learned to play French horn, baritone, coronet;
33:45 - Local clubs;
34:10 - Didn't have a television growing up, listened to radio and records often;
35:00 - Discussing other family member's involvement in music;
37:45 - Building speaker cabinets; Bixby Tailpiece; Speaker enclosures;
40:00 - Gear used for gigs / driving to gigs;
Interviews with Oscar Bernard (cont.) and Bernard "King Karl" Jolivette
00:00 - Discussion on musical scales and theory;
04:30 - guitar equation - explaining how a string vibrates and makes a tone;
07:15 - Shondells guitar solos;
09:10 - Played guitar on one of Eddy Raven's records;
11:00 - Discussing good guitarists, says there are so many great, unknown musicians;
12:10 - modern music;
13:45 - Oscar says that Rod was a great band leader;
16:30 - Musical influences - Hank Williams,;
18:00 - Worked for Boeing;
20:00 - Astronaut pens
22:55 - Interview with Bernard "King Karl" Jolivette joined by Ricky Rees
23:20 - Background - Born December 22, 1931, Learned from his uncle, John Abes - played country and blues music;
26:00 - First band when he was 13 years old, didn't have a band name;
27:00 - Played guitar with accordionist Howard Broussard;
27:20 - Moved to Beaumont in 1949, played some gigs with Lloyd Price;
28:50 - Served at Fort Hood for two years;
29:20 - Met Guitar Gable while working at the sweet potato kiln in Sunset;
31:00 - Putting together a band - Guitar Gable and the Musical Kings Featuring King Karl;
35:30 - Writing songs; "Life Problems;"
35:40 - Went to Eddie Shuler in Lake Charles to record the song, he wasn't there, so they went to Crowley and recorded for J.D. Miller;
37:30 - copywriting songs;
38:20 - "Irene;"
38:45 - Musical influences - Lloyd Price;
40:30 - Learning how to play music - first started on harmonica. Played sax, traded it for a guitar;
41:45 - Songs he wrote - "Irene," "Life Problems," "This Should Go On Forever," "Congo Mambo;"
42:15 - Clarence "Jockey" Etienne;
43:40 - Touring - Michigan Blues Festival;
45:00 - White/black sound - Warren Storm's style