Alex Broussard- Le Sud De La Louisiane

Alex Broussard was born August 19, 1926 in Maurice, La. Raised in the Acadian area, he started playing young.  Alex had a musical ear, playing banjo,dobro and upright bass. He was known as the "Barefoot Cajun", opting to sing and play barefoot. 

In the late 50's, Alex went to Carol Rachou to talk to him about recording.  Alex wanted to record a song called "Le Sud De La Louisiane" about the Cajun's exile to south Louisiana. Carol had built a studio out of his parents old grocery store and with Alex's first record, La Louisianne Records was born. The record was recorded in 1959 in Lafayette at Carol's first studio. "Le Sud De La Louisiane" was backed with "The Year 57" but some of the earlier versions featured a flip side by Ed Juneau. Alex made several recordings with Carol in the late 50's and early 60's. 



From 1959 till 1962 Alex recorded with his old friend Leroy "Happy Fats" LeBlanc on La Louisianne Records. Afterwards he joined The Bayou Buckeroo's with Happy Fats. With this group they discovered that older audiences still wanted Cajun and Country music. Together Happy and Alex played the dancehalls and clubs of Southwest, La. Both Happy and Alex had radio shows on KSIG out of Crowley. They performed at many festivals during this time as well. Their main outlet was "The Marine' Show which they hosted every Sunday morning on Channel 10, KLFY out of Lafayette.

"Le Sud De La Louisiane" was written by Alex for the Breaux Bridge Centennial. The Breaux Bridge Centennial evolved into what is today know as The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. The song describes the coming of the Acadians to south Louisiana with its frogs, alligators, crawfish and above all its unbelievable beauty. On this 1959 classic Alex is joined by Doc Guidry, Sleepy Hoffpauir and Leroy "Happy Fats" Leblanc.

On a flotté sur la grande mer
On a marché dedans le sable
On a passé dans les montagnes
Dans les cailloux de la Virginie,
On a trouvé les cocodris 
Les cocodris de la Louisiane
On donnerait pas nos cocodris
Pour tout le reste du pays.

Ici dans le sud de la Louisiane
Les poissons flottent dans le bayou Tèche
Les canards volent dedans les mèches
Les ouaouarons dans les platains,
Les écrevisses dans les clos de riz
Les écureuils dans les grands bois
On a trouvé notre paradis
Dedans le sud de la Louisiane.

Les petites Cadjines de la Louisiane
Les meilleures cuiseuses du pays,
Les sauces piquantes, les écrevisses,
Les patates douces dans la cheminée,
Ça chante les chansons de la Louisiane
Ça bat le linge dans le bayou Tèche,
On a trouvé les petites Cadjines
Dedans le sud de la Louisiane.

Les vieux Cadjins de la Louisiane
Les meilleurs citoyens du monde,
Ça brûle du bois pour la cheminée
Ça boit du moonshine tout l'hiver,
Ça danse les polkas du vieux temps,
Les mazurkas, les valses aussi,
On a trouvé le paradis
Dedans le sud de la Louisiane. 

In 1980, KADN-TV out of Lafayette started their program "Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler" which Alex hosted. It was around this time Alex built Alex Broussard's Ranch, a dancehall in Judice. The dance hall was a favorite of many Cajun and country musicians, including Alex's friend, George Jones.

Alex was a pilot, a farmer and beloved member of Lafayete Parish. He was a frequent guest on The Grand Ol' Opry and hosted many Cajun music shows.

Alex Broussard-"Le Sud De La Louisiane"
La Louisianne 8016

Resources
John Broven-South To Louisiana
with thanks to Jodie Broussard