Irby Bergeron Sr.
December 27, 2018
TIME TO BRAG
December 27, 2018
On Christmas Holidays memories of my past Cajun life travel further back and becomes brighter and this column is a look back at my musical journey which was a life time passion, bat for 40 years I got paid to play it
My Musical talents were either good, average, mediocre, pedestrian, so-so or inferior … all evaluations I received from critics through the years. Ever hear me? Pick one.
In 1986, 1 left the music business to devote full time to my new job. Lafourche Parish Assessor thanks to the kind voters
Then in 1995. at the behest of my former recording label. I recorded a Cajun CD and a double CD that contains moat of the 45 rpm’s I had recorded, songs I wrote, records I produced (three of which were million seller) and friends of mine who recorded just for this CD. You can hear or buy them on ITunes. Amazon and other outlets). I eventually laid my guitar down when a mean, cruel entity named “Mr, Arthur Rightist” visited me. I never touched it again.
When Dudley Bernard hired me for his newly formed band “The Southern Serenaders” in 1947. he also brought in Pott Folse on drums and Harry Anselmi on steel guitar to join him and big lead guitar player. Luke Charpentier. Jr.
We became very popular. Ahem!
Pott was an ex-Marine who sang novelty songs the folks loved. Luke was a lead guitar player whose father. Lake Charpentier. Sr.. had owned the first jitney dance hall in Golden Meadow, later Rebatock’s.
Harry’s lap steel (later a 4-neck Fender) was novel to our area And he and I gang the Bangs that were not Ernest Tubb. That was Dudley domain and he had Tabb’s style and sound down pat. and Tubb was king of the Cajun Country.
We played all over South Louisiana.
Dudley played open string rhythm guitar as most singers do because dosed chords are more difficult to coordinate while singing. That doesn’t apply to master guitar players like Brad Paisley, Glean Campbell and Keith Urban who can manage both.
I learned orchestration or “chop” chords which substituted for an upright bass fiddle, an instrument that didn’t fit in car trunks. The major bands had one. usually played by a comedian with a fanny costume and blacked out teeth. I learned the major, minor, flat sharp, diminished and 7th chords, with hard practice and billing fingers
In time my fingertips develop callouses which stopped the pain and blood.
Wheal Dudley left the band for the more lucrative oil fields, I took over “but quit to get married in 1958, the same year I took the job of Lafourche Parish Chief Deputy Assessor. I missed playing music so when nightclub owner Lee Richoux came to my house and urged me to form a new band for his club. I agreed and the “Rebels” were barn, consisting of Terry Prance (deceased) on drums. Henry Vegas. Jr, (recently deceased) an trumpet and Louis Breaux on steel guitar who is still active. The gigs wan mostly on weekends which did not interfere with my regular job. Louis played his steel standing up right and used it as a rhythm guitar which mimicked piano triplets like Fats Domino played A new musical genre was upon us, so we adapted with Louis doing most of the Rock and Roll songs. He was a hit-the folks loved him and the hand was quite popular. Double Ahem!
From 1954 to 1059, we played sometimes three times a week at Tee Lee’s. formerly Tee Mon’s” night dub in Raceland. When Louis left for the navy. I hired Philip Boudreaux Jr. from Chauvin (Tee Caillou”) He later became recording artist Phil Bo, and had Jinn Records hits like “Don’t Take it so Haiti”
After the navy Louis married Ms sweetheart Margaret and they raised two sons. He still plays at nursing homes
One night in anger I harmed the neck of. aid abandoned my faithful companion of is years and Bought and found a new. prettier and younger one I am referring to guitars, of course. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Bye now
Comments are welcomed at leroymartin1929@gmail.com
