Vin and LBR I
East met west when Vin Bruce, legendary bayou singer, performed with the Lost Bayou Ramblers of Lafayette at the Butte (H & R Sports), corner of East 37th Street and LA 308 in Cut Off, La.
The between-song banter is included for two reasons. First, Vin felt the need to explain a bass fiddle because the upright bass is no longer played on the bayou. Second, Vin demonstrates our Cajun sense of humor and a style of entertaining that was the norm when he broke into the business. Incidentally, the Nolan he picks on is my first cousin.
Vin Bruce began playing music in the 1940′s and was discovered by Columbia Records while performing in New Orleans. Beginning in 1951, he recorded a number of sides with session men who backed Lefty Frizzell and other big-time Columbia stars. One of the songs he sings in this video was made famous by Hank Williams, and Vin sang at Hank’s two New Orleans “show weddings” to Billie Jean in late 1952.
The Lost Bayou Ramblers are an energetic group of Cajuns from the Lafayette area who play the western style of traditional Cajun music for crowds across these United States and in a few foreign countries. Along the way, they picked up a nomination for the first-ever Grammy for Best Cajun/Zydeco Album in 2008.
On 18 Apr. 2009, these great Cajun musicians from both sides of the Atchafalaya River joined forces to bring two brands of Cajun music together to the delight of a very approving audience.
In this video, they perform “Take These Chains” and “Dans le Clair de la Lune.”
Duration : 0:7:38
Music Jam 10-18-09 “Jambalaya” Cover [Hank Williams, Sr.]
Yet another part of our jam [I have lots more to come]. Now I have the mic & am proceeding to sing the classic Hank Williams Song “Jambalaya”. A real favorite amongst jam sessions due to it’s simple 2 chord progression [C & G in this case].
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” is a song credited to American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in 1952. Named for a Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, it spawned numerous cover versions and has since achieved popularity in a number of music genres.
With a melody based on the Cajun song “Grand Texas”, some sources, including Allmusic, claim that the song was co-written by Williams and Moon Mullican, with Mullican uncredited but receiving ongoing royalties. Other sources claim that this was one of several songs which Williams purchased from other writers; a practice that was relatively common at the time.
Released in 1952, crediting Williams as the sole author, it was performed by Williams as a country song. It reached number one on the U.S. country charts for fourteen non consecutive weeks. “Jambalaya” remains one of Hank Williams most popular songs today.
Since the original melody of the song was from a Cajun French song called “Grand Texas”, the song is a staple of cajun culture. Although Williams changed the lyrics, he kept a Louisiana theme. In addition, Cajuns readily identified with the soulful sound of Williams. After Williams released his version, Cajuns recorded the song again using Cajun instruments. However, this time they used Williams’ lyrics translated into the Cajun French language. Over the past few decades, the Cajun French version has been performed by many Cajun bands including Aldus Roger and Jo-El Sonnier.
Duration : 0:2:37
cypress bayou weekend 2k7MFF: On Location #6 -The Music of Amanda Shaw
To find a theater showing “Hurricane on the Bayou”, please visit
http://www.hurricaneonthebayou.com/
Episode 6 of “MFF On Location” highlights New Orleans-based cajun musician, Amanda Shaw. Amanda has been a fiddling virtuoso since age seven, when she became the youngest person ever to play with the Baton Rouge Symphony as a soloist. Making the transition from Classical to Cajun, Amanda soon brought her own innovative crossover sound to the fore, gaining international fans. She and her band, The Cute Guys, have received raves on the festival circuit, Rollingstone.com called her “a fiddling wizard” and she recently opened for Cher at the VH1 Divas/Cher Farewell Tour. In January, Amanda was able to return to her heavily damaged school in New Orleans and will soon begin recording her first major album.
This video podcast series, “MFF: On Location” takes an inside look at the creation of the large format film “Hurricane on the Bayou”. Watch for more episodes coming soon. Subscribe at our blog at http://mffonlocation.blogspot.com
Experience the Power of Katrina and the Reality Of A “Hurricane on the Bayou” In This Emotional and Music-Driven IMAX® Theatre Ode To The Vital Swamps, Survival Stories and Undying Spirit of New Orleans.
A New IMAX® Theatre Film from the Producers of “Everest,” Shot In the Midst of Katrina, Makes a Musical Journey With Four Musicians As They Sound The Call To Restore The Vital Wetlands of Louisiana and Give New Orleans Hope for the Future.
Narrated By Meryl Streep
Hurricane on the Bayou is produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films, executive produced by Audubon Nature Institute with major funding from the State of Louisiana, and presented by The Weather Channel.
Duration : 0:3:1
Cajun Country
Allen Lomax’s wonderful documentary about the bayous of Louisiana which have combined French, German, West Indian, native American and hillbilly ingredients into a unique cultural gumbo.
Duration : 0:1:5
