Happy Fats and Doc Guidry- Bayou Lafourche

                                              



After recording with Happy Fats and the Rayne Bo Ramblers in 1936, Doc Guidry had broke away to form The Sons of the Acadians with his brother Nason and cousin Ray. But Doc returned to Happy's band in 1947 when they recorded for J.D. Miller's Fais Do Do label. Together they were Miller's star act.



As the fifties rolled on, Happy and Doc's radio shows were listened to all through Acadia Parish. Happy, always the salesman, had sponsorship with Budweiser and Evangeline Maid Bread. They also were regular guest on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport. But with rock and roll dominating the  new sound, Happy and Doc's music seemed to belong to another era.

By 1956, times got hard for Cajun musicians. Happy had to find work outside of music and with the help of Jimmie Davis, he got a job with the Wildlife and Fisheries Department. Doc had better luck, playing fiddle with Vin Bruce's band.

After the impact of rock and roll, Happy discovered that the older audiences still wanted Cajun and Country music. He teamed up with Alex Broussard and formed the Bayou Buckaroos. Together they played the dancehalls of Southwest Louisiana and even had a radio show on KSIG. 

The La Louisianne label was founded in 1959 by Carol Rachou. Carol was a musician who played in dance bands in the early fifties. He got interested in Cajun French music and built a studio for his new label. Among their first to record for the label were Alex Broussard, Doc Guidry and Happy Fats.

Happy kept busy with his Marine'  television show on KLFY. The show featured a spicy mix of Cajun, Country, Folk and spiritual songs. Around this time Happy teamed up with Doc again to record for Carol's new label. In 1961 they recorded "Bayou Lafourche" a classic they had previously recorded for Miller's Fais Do Do label. Also of note is Doc Guidry's fiddle playing, which he had started to double track on recordings in Carol's studio.

Bonheur tous les matins
J'peux voir mon vieux papa
Partir à  la pêche dessus la mer.
C'est su' le Bayou Lafourche
Il vient toutes les dimanches
À l'église du bon dieu pour prier.

Y'en a pas qu'est si riche.
Y'en a pas qu'est si pauvre.
Juste les bons Acadiens, p'us pour envie.
Et c'est là  j'sus parti
Pour la balance d'ma vie
Sur le côté du beau Bayou Lafourche

The mid sixties found Happy recording again for Miller for a series of political records. In the late 70's he recorded for Swallow records; he always seemed eager to entertain. He had been a major Cajun personality since the 1930's and remained loyal to the Cajun-country music he performed. 

J.D. Miller had this to say about Happy:
  "I've got so much respect for Happy Fats and other's like him, they just went on as if nothing happened. He kept on playing his country music and making real Cajun and country records."

Resources:
John Broven-South To Louisiana
lyrics: cajunlyrics.com

Session info:

HAPPY FATS AND DOC GUIDRY
V-1/g, Doc Guidry (v-2/fdl) Jimmy Gardner or Jack LeBlanc (g), st-g, g, b, acdn-2
La Louisianne Studio, Lafayette LA: c1961
LL 8023-1 Bayou Lafourche-1 La Louisianne 8023,
LL103
LL 8023-2 Allons a Lafayette-2 La Lou 8023, LL103