Robert Bertrand- "Drunkard's Two Step"

 

                                                

Elias "Bobby" Leger was the leader of the Lake Charles Playboys and was among the many accordion players born in the Rayne area. Bobby also had a offshore job with Chevron Oil. He was always worried that Chevron would be upset; if they thought he wasn't getting enough rest when he was home and did not want his name on the record. So the records were sold under Robert Bertrand's name.

Robert Bertrand was influenced growing up by his relatives playing music and started playing at a young age. He played with Iry LeJeune and was a member of Nathan Abshire's Pinegrove Boys.  He soon joined Bobby Leger's group, The Lake Charles Playboys.

Bobby never did like singing and because of this he was always in need of Robert to handle vocals and fiddle. Bertrand understood the situation and took full advantage of it many times. Sometimes Robert would hold out for more money and would often walk out because some other band offered more money. There were times Bobby would play for free so he could pay Robert Bertrand.

Here Robert and the Playboys cut "Drunkard's Two Step", which conjured up woozy images of Saturday night revelers absent mindedly tripping over the dance floor. On the recordings is Bobby on accordion, his son Leroy on drums, Robert on vocals and fiddle and the steel guitar of Louis Fournerat. Recorded in 1959, this is pure Cajun honky tonk.

Hier au soir j'ai été au bal

J'ai été mais moi tout seul

Pus personne qui voulait me recevoir

Mais je m'ai saouler 'sus mon bon vieux whisky

Ma belle-mère, alle était si cassée

Mon beau-père il était de bonne humeur

Ils ont passé la journée avec moi

On s'a saouler sur un bon vieux whisky

Mon vieux cheval il est proche crevé

Pus de maïs dans mon magasin

J'ai tout vendu à l'enfer

Pour moi faire mon bon vieux whisky

Mon linge il est tout déchiré

Pus de manière pour moi aller à la mer

J'ai pus rien pour me tracasser

Mais j'vas m'saouler 'sus mon bon vieux moonshine

Bobby and Robert both had long recording careers. Bobby went on to record for Miller on various labels, and Robert for Eddie Shuler's labels. 

One has to wonder about the record. J.D. Miller stopped using the "Fais Do Do" label in 1949 and introduced his "Feature" label. He used the Feature label until 1955. When the rock and roll era hit, Cajun music became obsolete. J.D. abandoned Cajun music for the new market of Southern blues and rock and roll.

In 1957 Floyd Soileau started recording and releasing Cajun on his label. Not having a studio, he used Miller's in Crowley. Perhaps J.D. saw the new interest in Cajun music; because in 1959 he revived the Fais Do Do label to release Robert and the Playboys on 45 rpm. Also in 1959, J.D. would introduce two new labels devoted to Cajun music. 

He would go on to use the Fais Do Do label one more time with a collaboration between Robert Bertrand and a hot new accordion player named Jo El Sonnier.

                                        

AND THE LAKE CHARLES PLAYBOYS (1000)

V/fdl, Bobby Leger (acdn),Louis Fournerat (st-g) .Leroy Leger (d)

J.D.Miller Studio, Crowley LA: 1959

F 401 Lost love waltz Fais-Do-Do 1000

F 402 Drunkard’s two step FDD 1000, BCD17206

Resources

Broven- South To Louisiana

Lyle Ferbrache- Acadian All Star Special

lyrics- cajunlyrics.com