Anna Evangelista
April 6, 2018
The Good Earth MARKET
April 6, 2018
Why did Elvis destroy Vin Brucels career in 1958? Well, not deliberately. He probably never even beard Vin’s recordings which started in 1951. Like Vin, he was just a teenager trying to show his talent, and did he ever! Unintended consequences: His new style of music almost destroyed country music causing the major record labels to trim their rosters and keep only their top stare. Vin did not survive.
So Far my stories about Vin derive from our childhood friendship. I was not a part of his musical career until 1980, a career not yet ended. Not by a long shot.
A review of his life is in order, not in my words but with randomly selected quotes, phrases and excerpts about him from hundreds of p published stories in magazines, newspapers and books including England’s John Broven’s “South to Louisiana”, Johnny Allan’s “Memories”, Shane Bernard’s (Rod Barnard’s son) “Swamp Pop and Cajun Music” U.K.’s (British) “Blues Unlimited” Germany’s “American Music” (translated to me by a World War II German war bride, Mrs. Lansing Hebert, a neighbor), France’s “La Music”, ” Billboard”, “Cashbox” “Country Song Roundup” and dozens more denoted and enclosed with quotation mark (“”).
(I did have an episode with Elvis which made news and you can watch me tell it on YouTube “Leroy Martin Rejects Elvis”)
A Cajun Life:
“Vin Bruce changed the course of music in South Louisiana end at one time was considered as popular as Hank Williams and he performed at the famous Hank Williams wedding in New Orleans … many claim that he was better received than the star.”
“Born in Cut Off, Louisiana on April 25, 1932, his father played a fiddle in local Cajun bands and Vin, although a shy Cajun boy began at 14 playing and singing in a local band”
“Heard by Columbia Records distributer Mel Malory, he was brought to the attention of Columbia’s Don. Law and Peer international publisher’s Troy Martin who signed him to a recording contract … He became the first Cajun artist to record Cajun (and country) music with Nashville Professional musicians Chet Atkins, Tommy Jackson, Owen Bradley and Shook Jackson.”
“HE continued to record far Columbia until 1956 when the rock and roll era forced the major labels to direct their efforts only on their major national artists.”
“his fame as a Cajun artist had spread to Europe and Asia and as British author John Broven wrote, Vin had become the major Cajun artist of post war Louisiana and the world.”
“When his Columbia years ended he worked as a carpenter and a contractor to support his family. He suffered a life threatening accident and survived a near death operation and then teamed up with producer/recording artist/radio D.J. Leroy Martin which began his new career with Jin/Swallow records.”
That ends his story as told by others. Our association for the next 28 years includes trips to other countries, hundreds of honors and nationwide music festivals, all future columns.
But first:
Recent years – a new kid in town:
After retiring professionally Vin continued performing at benefit, weddings, and accepting tributes to himself and even singing at funerals, all gratia. At a ceremony to honor him at the Liberty Theater in Erath, Louisiana Vin was singing when from the audience, escaping grandmother’s arms ran a very young kid with a small guitar who began singing along with him. It brought the house down and began the career of Benjamin Bruce, Vin’s three old grandson.
There was no stopping him from then on. He begin appearing on Facebook and YouTube and other appearances with his grandfather and as a solo artist at local clubs and functions. He now plays a regular guitar, wears a cowboy hat and western clothes. He is now all of nine years old and I recently had the honor and pleasure of sure of hearing him perform at Vin and Aline’s house in Cut Off. With no hesitation he sat on the sofa and sang his grandfather’s song, both French and English, some of which I wrote. A big surprise for me was…well, let’s save that for next week. BYENOW!.
‘Vin Bruce changed the course of music in South Louisiana and at one time, was considered as popular as Hank Williams and he performed at the famous Hank Williams wedding…’
In this week’s piece, historical columnist Leroy Martin continues to tell the tale of his long-standing friendship with Vin Bruce. Both men are well-known local musicians in the area. The story tells of Vin’s life and a history of the things he did in music.
