Interview with Oran "Doc" Guidry

Accession No.: 
BE1-038

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

Media Type: 
Audio
Collection: 
Shane K. Bernard
Subject: 
Louisiana, Folk Music, Swamp Pop, Country Music, Recording Industry; Cajun Music
Creator: 
Shane Bernard
Recording date: 
Saturday, November 2, 1991
Coverage Spatial: 
Lafayette, LA
Publisher: 
Shane K. Bernard
Rights Usage: 
All Rights Reserved
Language: 
English
Meta Information
Duration: 
47:22
Cataloged Date: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Digitized Date: 
Monday, January 30, 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