THE TOP 10 FOR 2018
January 3, 2019
TAKE FIVE SHAWN RODDY
January 3, 2019
I welcome 2019 because 2018 tried to ruin me medically, physically, financially, mentally and a few other words I can’t spell, and despite all this, I beat it all and still managed to enter the new year which can’t be worse. (It can’t? Considering my age. Oh yes it can!)
For forty years, from 1947 to 1907.1 spent every New Years, Eve on a handstand somewhere between Houston, Texas and Mobile, Alabama, but mostly in Louisiana. The last 26 years were with Vin Bruce and the Acadians, a partnership that lasted through good times and bad.
The band dissolved in 1687 and Vin left us just this past year. I had the sad task of delivering his eulogy.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve were always party time. Our wives came along and at midnight, the band played Silent Night and Auld Lang Syne.
New Year’s Eve in 1965 fell cm a Wednesday and Vin Bruce and the Acadians ware playing four nights straight at the Stage Coach in Galliano, (Monday was a wedding dance)
On Saturday the 29th. I left the bandstand for a call from my son Mike, who informed me that he and wife Tammy had made me a first-time grandfather with the birth of Hal Michael Martin. I shared it with the audience and they cheered. Hal today is in the NASCAR racing business in Charlotte, N.C.
New Year’s Eve 1983 was notable because on November 4th, I had been elected Assessor of Lafourche Pariah, I served 16 years (SO prior) and retired December 81. 3000. My son Mike succeeded, me and died in office March 4th. 2014.
New Year’s Eva 1B48. one of my early years playing in a band and I was playing at the Merry Inn in Morgan City with Dudley Bernard and the Southern Seranaders and at inter-mission, in the restroom, I was tapped on the shoulder. “Nice music. Leroy,” a voice said. He continued.
“Forget that you saw me or the lady I’m with tonight.”
I said “O.K.” we shook hands and I fait something in my palm It was a ISO-dollar hill. With that and band pay. I had my car note. It was the easiest secret I ever had to keep in my life, because to this day. I don’t have a due as to who that gentleman or the lady were
Today the Stage Coachis long gone, but the ground it once stood on is still yearning for another New Tear Eve dance which will never happen. Also gone are the Town Chib (La Nige) The Ritz Garden, The Bellevue/Safari and in Raceland, Tee Man’s and Sal’s, in Chenier the Lovely Inn and the French. Casino. In Grand Isle Tonya, Smithy’s and the Beach Haven. In Chauvin, (Tee Caillou)- The Rose Room and Bright Star. I played musk in them all many times Oh what memories!
The holidays are a season for memories, and this column recalls some of the the Cajun/country singers who went before bat brightened the drudgery of our lives while they were here.
Recently. Vin Bruce, but also Harry Anselmi. Dudley Bernard, L.J. Foret Les Dornangue Gene Rodrigoe Doc Guidry, D.L. Menard and many others have passed on and will now play their tunes in eternity in heaven.
My tribute to those great musicians:
“Their Cajun/Country songs so dear, return on whirling discs of black
To heal the hearts and dry the tears, by bringing precious memories back
The voices that were silenced when, the darts of fate were hurled
Return to heal their broken hearts and lonely Cajun “World.”
A word from Leroy Martin,
To them, all dear friends I composed this, borrowing a line from Mary Beth Faget who memorialized the great Jimmie Rodgers.
So here is 3019, just a space in time but ours to improve on 2016. As your path to the future arrives, whatever your religion, or having none at oil. following the Ten Commandments can only lead yon to the righteous path. They are time tested, guaranteed and the only set of rules with no ulterior motive except to love thy neighbor, love thy nation and to thy own self be true. BYE NOW!
Comments are welcomed at leroymartinl929@gniail.com
EDITOR’s NOTE:
Mr. Leroy, on behalf of everyone on the team at Rushing Media, thank you so much for your work as a columnist in our paper. Tour column has gotten a lot of interest and all Cajun people – young and old – should take pride in knowing our area’s history. May 2019 be great to you and yours! God bless!
For a well-known Cajun musician, New year’s Eue is always a night is rock out and party with family and friends. In this week’s columns, Historical Columnist Mr. Luray Marta tells us about some of his best time celebrating New Years.
