| Center for Louisiana Studies

Interview with Mack McCormick by Michael Tisserand

0:00 McCormick compiled two LPs "A Treasury of Field Recordings" put out by 77 Records in England around 1959 to let other people know about musical traditions in Houston. He said he wouldn't do it again. It's too much of a mish mash and nobody likes all of it, but that that's the nature of documentary recordings. He says when he talks about Zydeco, he means the music of Frenchtown in Houston. He doesn't accept the second layer of the use of the word Zydeco and believes in was usurped by Louisiana tourists and that the lines were blurred in the 1960s.

Hackberry Ramblers in New York City

0:00 Tisserand is traveling with the Hackberry Ramblers and their crew and guests and have arrived in New York City for the Grammy Awards ceremony for which they have been nominated. Luderin Darbone talks about using an amplifier with the violin. The violin couldn't compete with the volume of the accordion, but the accordion has only so many notes and the violin gives you the half notes that some tunes need. Tisserand points out Radio City Music Hall, where the Grammy ceremony will be held.

Interview with Don Cravins by Michael Tisserand

0:50 Don got involved in Zydeco around 1987-88 when his brother, Charles, told him about an opening at Z106 in Maurice for a Zydeco radio show. Don and Charles did the show together and it became very popular. They involved people in the community in the show by telling stories and having regular call-ins like Floyd. They had some bands play live in the studio including Zydeco Force who they had discovered in the parking lot of Richard's. They took the show on the road to the trail rides and nursing homes.

Interview with Nathan Williams by Michael Tisserand Part 2

0:00 Tisserand is interviewing Nathan by phone and will be writing the notes to go with the new album. Nathan doesn't know the name of the album yet (Zydeco Crossroads) but mentions Zydeco Hog, the first track on the album, as a possibility. Nathan talks about some of the places and times he (as a kid) saw Clifton play. He says he listened to Clifton Chenier's tapes so much that he had them memorized. Nathan's song Ma Femme Nancy is about his wife. He explains some of the lyrics and old slang.

Interview with Nathan Williams by Michael Tisserand Part 1

0:00 The beginning of the recording sound like it's something that was on a tape that Tisserand recorded over and is not part of the interview.

Interview with Anderson Moss by Michael Tisserand part 3

0:00 It's unclear who they are speaking about. But it's someone who has died. Tisserand says he saw Moss Music Store and Moss Barber Shop. They belonged to some of Moss's nephews. Moss says he was good dancer. He remembers when the Charleston came out. He talks about some of the old shows he would do with all kinds of acts.
4:50 Moss says things have changed and he feels the devil is here on earth. He gets a kick out of teaching music. When he was younger and playing music, he still worked during the day doing all kinds of different jobs.

Interview with Anderson Moss by Michael Tisserand parts 1 and 2

Former Accession # TI1-019

Interview with Carl Brasseaux by Michael Tisseand side 3

0:00 After the Civil War, there was no longer a legal distinction between free people of color and slaves. The free people of color were a de facto elite due to their land holdings. Below them was a large population of former slaves, which within, also contained a small minority of descendants of while planters and their slave mistresses who were not manumitted. It is this minority population, for the most part, who are responsible for the Creole revival movement and are the musicians playing Creole and Zydeco music.

Interview with Carl Brasseaux by Michael Tisserand sides 1 and 2

Former Accession # TI1-017

Interview of Rosie and Morris Ledet by Michael Tisserand

Former Accession # TI1-016

University of Louisiana at Lafayette