Interviews with Warren Storm and Benny Graeff

Accession No.: 
BE1-019

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

Media Type: 
Audio
Collection: 
Shane K. Bernard
Subject: 
Louisiana, Folk Music, Swamp Pop, Blues, Oral History, Drums
Creator: 
Shane Bernard
Informants: 
Johnnie Allan, Charles Adcock
Recording date: 
Tuesday, June 12, 1990
Coverage Spatial: 
Lafayette, LA
Publisher: 
Shane K. Bernard
Rights Usage: 
All Rights Reserved
Language: 
English
Meta Information
Duration: 
46:14
Cataloged Date: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Digitized Date: 
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Original Format: 
Audio--Cassette--60
Digital Format: 
Audio
Bit Depth: 
16 bit
Sampling Rate: 
44.1k
Storage Location: 
Archives of Cajun and Creole Folklore