Carol Rachou founded La Louisianne Records in 1959. His first release was by Alex Broussard but in the following years, such greats as Lawrence, Aldus Roger and Happy Fats were recording for his label. Lawrence would finish out his recording career with the label, cutting 12 songs in total on 45 rpm.
Around Acadia Parish the story of Alice, Adam and his horse Henri was well known. Angelas Lejeune had previously used the story for his song "La Valse A Tidom Hanks". The story involves Adam "Tee Dom" Hanks and Alice Royer. The two were lovers but Alice's father didn't approve of the two being together. Adam loved to ride his horse, Henri, while drinking whiskey from a jug and this was enough to make Alice's father not like him. The two seperated and eventually married others. But Adam's love for Alice never died. He composed a song about his love for Alice called "La Valse a Tee Dom" and would sing the song on his accordion with tears streaming down his face at house dances.As for Lawrence, Adam told him the lyrics to the song at a dance one night near Bosco. He used the melody from his "Country Waltz" on Khoury to transform into his song "Chere Alice" recorded in 1962 on La Louisianne Records featuring the great fiddling of Doc Guidry. It would be one of the last singles he ever released.
Lawrence and his Wandering Aces kept kept the Cajun dance hall fire going in the late 1950's and 1960's. But soon Rock music influence would soon dominate the scene. Lawrence's steel guitar player was Johnny Allan and would use Lawrence's band to play as the Krazy Kats. Lawrence soon got aggravated at the situation and abandoned playing. He passed away in 1968 at age 60.Resources
Early Cajun Music Blog
Johnnie Allan: Memories
No comments:
Post a Comment