A legend returns!

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN NAACP CASE
March 22, 2019
Colonels begin spring football
March 22, 2019
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN NAACP CASE
March 22, 2019
Colonels begin spring football
March 22, 2019

Country ran sic remained popular for most of the 1960s until Elvis Presley almost destroyed the industry, forcing major recording labels to cut their country music rosters in half and in 1956 that included our own Vin Bruce. On Columbia, with his cajun and country recordings, Vin had become a Louisiana legend, his fame extending to Texas and Mississippi, but that would fade. With no new recordings the concerts and dance jobs diminished and Vin went back to a simpler life style, running a service station and playing in a local club with a three-piece Band. I thought he deserved better and while visiting Floyd Soileau, who was striking gold with Ms Cajun and swamp pop Jin/Swallow labels from Ville Platte, Louisiana, I mentioned Vin Bruce.

“You know, Leroy many people, including juke box operators are asking for his recordings” Floyd said “and I could sell a lot of them.” We struck a deal In no time flat I had produced Vin’s first 45 RPM at KLFT radio in Golden Meadow, and the rest as they say, is history. From then on it was dozens of records and LP’s which had Floyd seeking Nashville factories to press the demand for his records and kept Vin and I busy writing new song?, brought more radio shows and even a T.V. show (before cable) on KHMA TV. in Houma.

The demands flooded for Vin Bruce and the Acadian and made us the top Country/Cajun band in South Louisiana, East Texas and West Mississippi. It also opened the door to the biggest dance halls and concert stages and playing for Hank Williams’ wedding in New Orleans, plus a contract with the National Park Service (Smokey the Bear) to fly and play music at National Folk Festivals nationwide in Washington D.C., St Louis, Mo., El Paso, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, among others We were, if not on “top of the World” at least looking at it.


In early 1960s, country music station WSHO opened in New Orleans playing country music 24 hours a day The owners wanted a “Sho-Band” for their station and chose us. We became their “go to” band for appearances at car dealerships, real estate home shows, bank branch openings, and even Pont char train Beach backing Grand Dle Opry stars.

Around 1966 the owners called Vin and I to announce they wanted to build a high platform on Canal Street for Mardi Gras day to broadcast live as parades rolled. It happened.

It was hectic but what an experience! A room with facilities, electric fans and food and drinks for musicians, wives and staff were provided below the stage.


The float riders threw from both sides of Canal and as the beads and trinkets piled up to our knees, we threw them back to the crowd amassed below. Unforgettable! As the many throws hit Doc Guidry’s electric fiddle, it resounded in his amplifier like machine gunfire. He didn’t think it was funny Riders who knew us threw extra hard. Ouch… What a memorable day! Regretfully, we considered it too hectic and called it quits after two years and WSHO, also folded.

One of my best memories of that event was that in the middle of carnival throws up to our knees, people gathering around our staid instead of the floats and through the beads, ribbons and other paraphernalia, my dear late friend Vin turned to me between musical notes and said “Lee, can you believe this?” No, I couldn’t Vin, but it did happen…….A long time ago!

A friend watching TV heard our music and turned on a tape recorder which he played us a few days later. WDSU TV was broadcasting from a nearby booth with Mel Levitt interviewing New Orleans Mayor Victor Schiro. As our music bled through his mic, we heard him angrily tell the Mayor. “What’s a Cajun band doing in our city of jazz?”, along with a few more uncomplimentary remarks.


A few years later Paul Prudhomme burned a redflsh and the city proudly reclaimed its Cajun and Creole heritage. BYE NOW!

A legend returns!A legend returns!