Center for Louisiana Studies Archival Catalog

Recorded in 1987

Warren Caesar:

00:00:30 - Learning music from his father and other family members - Melvin Randall, Lionel Boutté, Jules and Joe Handy
00:01:50 - Lionel Boutté and the Zydeco Band
00:02:30 - His musical influences and the type of music he plays
00:03:30 - Rocking Sidney being his main influence
00:04:00 - Talking about his band and recordings they made
00:05:30 - When Zydeco started becoming popular
00:07:00 - More people starting to want to speak French
00:08:00 - Trying to work and play music
00:08:30 - What is unique about his band
00:11:30 - Thoughts on mainsteam music
00:13:10 - Started going to dances since he was seven - Growing up in L'anse Maigre
00:13:30 - Bois Sec Ardoin and Canrary Fontenot are his uncles
00:14:30 - La-la music
00:14:45 - Bois Sec and Canray playing in dance halls and listening to them, Bois Sec's Nightclub - Cowboy Club
00:16:00 - Listening to Bois Sec and Canray when he was a child
00:16:45 - How he began playing music using a cornet he modified
00:23:40 - Experience playing music in the school band
00:28:20 - Hitchhiking to get to gigs

00:29:20 - Moving to Houston to play music
-Clifton Chinier asking him to play his horn on Clifton's live album recorded at Grant Street

00:41:00 - Lessons he learned from Clifton
00:42:30 - How Zydeco music regained popularity
00:44:30 - Talks about being Creole
00:56:00 - His relationship with Clifton and working with him
01:00:10 - Paul Simon coming to play with Rockin Dopsie
01:01:10 - Nonc Joe and Amedé Ardoin

Ann Savoy:

00:00 - Discusses the start of the Liberty Theater
04:00 - Getting the national park involved in the Liberty Theater and then getting the Mayor of Eunice Curtis Joubert
06:10 - Marc Savoy putting on a Tex-Mex show at the Liberty in 1982 - Santiago Jimenez
07:15 - Nick Spitzer's "Zydeco" premiere at the Liberty
08:00 - Jim Isenogle - Head of Jean Lafitte Center being interested in buying the theatre
08:40 - Reviving the Mardi Gras of Eunice
10: 15 - The city of Eunice purchasing the Liberty Theater and the National Park began putting on shows at the Liberty
11:30 - Renovating the Liberty Theater. Historic aspects of the Liberty Theater, built in 1924 and opened in the 1930's
14:00 - Ann Savoy and Jane Vidrine writing plays and performing them at the theater
17:30 - The origins of the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns weekly show at the Liberty Theater
19:45 - The recipe portion of the show and humorist - Gertrude Fontenot, Linus Betrand, Madame Etoufée, Dula Matte
23:30 - Involvement of Ray Brassieur and Vincent Fontenot, Keeping the show mostly in French

Nick Spitzer:

00:00 - His experience using it to premier the documentary on rural Zydeco
00:45 - Event with Chris Strachwitz and Santiago Jimenez
01:30 - Locals coming together to get the theater prepared for the film premier
02:25 - Reactions during the premier
02:50 - Restoration of the theater
03:00 - Originally built to give locals access to popular culture
05:00 - Programming being in French

Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural:

0:55 - Talking about the album and why is is different from others he has done
2:20 - Using a Zydeco groove in more mainstream tunes
3:00 - Album Rehearsals

Recorded in Summer 1987

Ben Sandmel with Boozoo Chavis:

00:00 - The songs Boozoo has written
02:00 - Talking about his style of playing
04:40 - The musicians he likes and does not like
09:30 - His perspective on the young musicians coming up - Terrance Simien
11:00 - Hippies - Boozoo's thoughts on smoking marijuana
13:40 - Boozoo's description of Zydeco music
16:15 - Baisse-bas, short step

Ben Sandmel with Don Cravins:

00:10 - Growing up on a farm in Mallet, LA
01:00 - Speaking French growing up
01:30 - How he got involved in Zydeco Music
02:00 - Had many businesses liked to take a challenges
02:30 - Started to do a Zydeco show on Z 106 (name of station at the time)
04:30 - Discovering Zydeco Force at a trail ride
05:45 - Zydeco TV Program - Zydeco Extravaganza
08:00 - Zydeco bands he likes
10:00 - Networking and meeting people, running for state senator
14:50 - Talking about traditional Zydeco music
15:30 - The young Zydeco musicians and the come back of Zydeco. Trail rides
17:45 - His enjoyment of doing the radio show

Recorded in 1996

Ben Sandmel with Floyd Soileau:

00:25 - First label he recorded under was Jin records (1957), recording the Boogie Kings and Rod Bernard
01:10 - Creating Swallow Records
02:00 - Going from recording Swamp Pop to Cajun, Creole, Zydeco music
02:30 - Maison de Soul and Komaday labels
03:00 - Flat Town Music - Publishing and Main Company Name
03:30 - Reasons for recording under different labels
05:30 - The basis of Flat Town records is to promote Louisiana music
06:30 - State of Swamp Pop music
10:00 - The late 50's and early 60's when Cajun music was in a lull

12:15 - Younger Cajun musicians learning to sing in French and then learning to speak French
-David Greely, Percy Boudreaux Jr.

15:00 - The marriage of Cajun music and food
15:10 - The movie the Big Easy and the influence it had on the culture
18:00 - What draws people to South Louisiana music
19:10 - Being punished for speaking French when Floyd was growing up

19:50 - Musicians who have recorded or are recording with him
-Lawrence Walker, Aldus Roger, Austin Pitre, Adam Hebert, Balfa Brothers, Pierre Daigle, Paul Daigle, Belton Richard

22:30 - More about Belton Richard and his upcoming album
24:30 - Terry Huval, Reggie Matte, Jambalaya, Tasso, Mamou Prairie Band, Basin Brothers, Balfa Toujours
26:00 - Marketing, Licensing, Distribution - Europe becoming a major market for South LA traditional music
26:30 - Zydeco music - Geno Delafose, Chris Ardoin, Rosie Ledet
29:00 - Rockin' Sidney - Recording "Toot Toot" and going about getting the rights and payments set up
30:00 - Rockin' Sidney purchasing a radio station in Lake Charles
31:30 - Leasing "Don't Mess With My Toot Toot" to Epic Records and John Fogerty's version
37:40 - Vinyl pressing plant burning down
40:20 - Reviving the print pressing plant, graphic design
42:00 - Floyd's Record Shop, Floyd's Wholesale Distributing
42:40 - How he goes from recording at record to putting out the finished product
45:00 - His wife and children getting involved in the business
49:00 - Floyd's recording studios - The Back Door, Promised Land, Balfa Brothers, Ronnie Cole
51:40 - Eddie Shuler

Recorded in 1990

Morris Ledet:

00:30 - How he began playing Zydeco music
-Lanice Ledet

00:58 - Other types of music he listen to
01:10 - Who he admires in music - Boozoo Chavis, Nathan Williams, John Delafose
01:30 - Surprised to see how much Zydeco music has come back in recent years
01:35 - Only plays diatonic accordion
01:45 - Band Members - Ray Johnson, Perry Guillory, Wilson Alexander
01:55 - Places they play
02:30 - What he'd like to tell "the world" about Zydeco music

Recorded circa 1990

Ben Sandmel with Lynn August:

00:00 - Grew up in Lafayette
00:40 - Had an Uncle who played accordion - Claudelle Duffy
01:30 - His main inspiration came from Ray Charles (R.C. Robinson) - playing in Four Corners

02:00 - Showed musical talent from a young age
-Drums were his first instrument. Parents were very supportive of his musical development

03:45 - His father would take him to different clubs to audition - Peppermint Lounge - Roland Dice
04:40 - Esquerita
05:15 - New Orleans Funk Beat
07:45 - Going on the road with Jay Nelson
09:00 - Starting his own band - playing with Buckwheat Zydeco (Stanley Dural)
10:30 - Status of Zydeco in the 60's - Clifton Chenier

12:30 - Worked at a Bino's Lounge in St. Martinville playing 4 nights a week solo on a Hammond B3 organ for $300 a week

13:30 - Side gigs besides Bino's Lounge
16:30 - Working the hotel circuits
17:30 - First Zydeco gig - Going on the road with Marcel Dugas
18:00 - Grew up speaking French
22:50 - Worked as choir director for churches around Lafayette
23:30 - Regional touring with lounge chains
24:35 - Worked at the Driftwood Club in Lafayette with a trio (at the Northgate Mall)
28:00 - Country artists - Ronnie Milsap, Keith Whitley, Randy Travis
29:45 - In 1988 started to get burned out so he built a studio and began writing and wanted to learn Zydeco
32:30 - How playing the drums helped him learn to play the accordion
35:00 - Blind Musicians - Blind John Davis, Henry Butler, etc
36:30 - Purchased his first accordion in 1989
37:00 - Comeback of Zydeco music
38:45 - He never let his blindness hold him back
42:30 - Singing 'Juré'

Recorded in 1987

Ben Sandmel with Terrance Simien:

00:30 - How he began playing music - Hanging out at Slim's and Richard's Club
01:05 - Church of Saint Anne's having a dance and hosting trial ride
02:45 - Teaching himself to play accordion and his influences
05:00 - Playing at the World's Fair and playing in Washington D.C.
09:30 - "The Big Easy" - writing a song with Dennis Quaid and recording it with Art Neville and Dickie Landry
10:30 - Booking Agent
11:20 - Description of his musical style
20:00 - Plans for future recording
22:10 - Parents spoke French but did not teach him, now he is trying to learn
25:45 - Soul music being worked into Zydeco music - different Zydeco styles
27:00 - Evolution of music
28:20 - Boozoo Chavis
29:30 - Clifton Chenier
34:00 - Difficulties playing music close to home and gaining respect in the local community

Ben Sandmel with John Delafose:

00:20 - John talking about the make up of the new album
01:05 - Comments on each song
02:30 - Country musicians he likes
07:55 - Pride in his son's (Geno and Tony) playing music

0:00:10 – “Blues de Basile”
0:04:13 – "Nobody Wants Me”
0:07:48 – “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale”
0:12:12: - "Mulberry Waltz”
0:16:28 – “Les Veuves De La Coulée”
0:20:24 – “Pine Grove Blues”
0:27:18 – “Lovebridge Waltz”
0:31:29 – “Les Flammes D’enfer”
0:36:14 – “Les Flammes D’enfer” (encore)
0:38:31 – “T’es Si Aisee Pour Aimer”
0:41:39 – “Lovebridge Waltz”
0:44:14 – “Valse de Bélizaire”
0:47:05 – “Balfa Waltz”
0:49:41 – waltz
0:55:56 – “The Back Door”
0:58:08 – two step
0:59:28 – “Le Valse de Grand Bois”
1:02:29 – “Les traces de mon Boghei”

Chanson de Mardi Gras - Beausoleil;
One Scotch. One Bourbon, One Beer - Aldus Roger;
Doucet explains Mardi Gras;
Zydeco Mardi Gras - Boozoo Chavis;
Chanson de Mardi Gras - Mark Savoy;
Doucet on crickets;
Chanson de Mardi Gras - Balfa Brothers;
Mardi Gras Jig - Aldus Roger;
underwriting information

Host: Michael Doucet; ÒBosco StompÓ Belton Richard; ÓLaissez-FaireÓ Bruce Dadigrepont; ÒBow Legged WomanÓ C. J. Chenier; ÒKeep on RunninÕÓ Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas; ÒHeart on FireÓ Zachary Richard; Zachary Richard speaks about his musical influences; learning Cajun music; ÒOh MadelineÓ Zachary Richard; learning Cajun music in Canada; his style; ÒWho Stole my MonkeyÓ Zachary Richard; underwriting information

underwriting information cont.; ÒLa Cravatte est Ziggy-ZagÓ Beausoleil; ÒIÕm the Zydeco ManÓ Clifton Chenier; ÒCornbreadÓ Beau Joque; ÒLoverÕs WaltzÓ Steve Riley; Steve Riley performing at the Liberty Theatre; Steve Riley on Cajun music; ÒJÕaimerais Te par DonnerÓ Steve Riley; underwriting information

Host Michael Doucet; Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys; Ò RockinÕ Doopsie and the Zydeco Twisters; ÒMadam BozoÓ Shirley Bergeron; ÒLes ÔTite Yeux NoirÓ Jambalaya; Interview with Mickey Guillory; ÒBack DoorÓ D. L. Menard; D. L. Menard talks about his wife; ÒWhere the Money GoesÓ D. L. Menard; underwriting information

ÒGrand TassoÓ Michael and David Doucet; ÒPetit du Lac GrossÓ John Leblanc; ÒAnniversary WaltzÓ Blackie Forestier; HayŽe Lafaye interviews Chef Pat Mould of KLFY; ÒSalle Au PrisÓ Zydeco Force; ÒSugar BeeÓ Jay Stoutes and Cleveland Crochet; ÒHier SoirÓ Fernest Arceneaux; underwriting information

ÒJambalayaÕs Hot-StepÓ Jambalaya; ÒTonightÕs the NightÓ Zydeco Hurricanes; ÒBayou Pon PonÓ Wallace Rees; ÒSophieÓ Beausoleil; Earline Broussard on CODOFIL; ÒZydeco Sont Pas SalŽÓ Clifton Chenier; ÒJolie BlondÓ Harry Chotes; underwriting information

ÒFi Fi PanchoÓ Savoy Doucet Cajun Band; ÒZydeco Tout PartoutÓ Buckkwheat Zydeco; ÒMatildaÓ Cookie and the Cupcakes; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Chef Pat Mould about crawfish and corn fricassŽe; ÒPerredain Two-stepÓ FilŽ; Embree interviews Ward Lorman of FilŽ; ÒSandy CoveÓ FilŽ; underwriting information