Louisiana Jukebox Cafe

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Happy 61st Birthday to two-time Grammy Award-winning Zydeco musician Terrance Simien.
The singer-songwriter and accordionist was born on September 3, 1965, in the unincorporated community of Mallet in St. Landry Parish.
Simien’s family is an eighth-generation Creole from one of the earliest families that settled in St. Landry Parish.
Although his first introduction to music came as a choir member in his Catholic church, he was self-taught on the accordion.
In 1981, at the age of 16, he founded the Zydeco band, “Terrance Simien and The Mallet Playboys.” The group also included the likes of future Grammy-award winner Chubby Carrier, along with Earl Sally, John Esprite and Mark Simar.
In 1984, they released a pair of single 45 rpm releases on Crowley’s J.D. “Jay” Miller’s ‘Blues Unlimited’ label, first with “For Your Love” and “Like This, Like That” and then two more Simien-penned songs that year with “Good Friend Is Gone” and “My Lady, My Woman Or My Wife.”
In 1985, the band moved over to the Lafayette-based ‘Callier Records’ label with a Simien-written tune of “Then Along Came Lucy,” as well as “Woe! Rock Hee Haw Breakdown” by Nolan Cormier.
And then in 1976, a picture-sleeve 45 rpm with the songs, “You Use To Call Me” and “I Need Some Loving” appeared on the Cecilia-based ‘Cajun’ label, ‘Grand Point.’
After releasing three solo albums on CD formation in the 1990’s, Simien founded ‘Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience,’ with the more recent line-up including Danny Williams on keyboards, Stan Chambers on bass, Lance Ellis on saxophone, Ian Molinaro-Tompson on drums, and Revon Andres on trombone.
Beginning in 2003, with the CD release of “Creole For Kids and The History of Zydeco,” they followed with albums in 2006, 2007, 20013, and a “Live Recording at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival” in 2017.
In 2008, one year after the award was initiated, Simien and his ‘Zydeco Experience’ won the Grammy for “Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album’ for “Live! Worldwide.”
Simien then won his second Grammy in 2014 for “Best Regional Music Album” for he and his band’s “Dockside Sessions’ album.
The worldwide entertainer has performed in nearly 50 countries and has shared the stage or studio with such legends as Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews, as well as Louisiana greats like Dr. John, The Meters and Marcia Ball.

09/02/2026

Happy 88th Birthday to Baton Rouge's own Rock 'n Roll legend, and a teenage heart-throb for millions throughout the country during the late 1950’s to early 1960’s……. Jimmy Clanton.
Actually, Clanton was born on September 2, 1938 in the unincorporated community of Raceland on Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish. The family then moved to the Capital City, where he grew up, attended and graduated from high school, while beginning to mold his musical passion.
Although the Baton Rouge High School grad never recorded on the newly-born local Baton Rouge ‘Montel record label,' good friend and aspiring record producer Sam ’S.J.’ Montalbano, who had tipped off New Orleans recording producer Cosimo Matassa of a hidden talent living 80 miles upriver from the Crescent City.
Matassa also became his manager, while his recording release appeared on Johnny Vincent's Jackson, Mississippi- based 'Ace Records' label.
Also known as “Sam Montel,” Montalbano did handle the job of Jimmy’s road manager for a 'Dick Clark Caravan Tour' in the late 1950’s.
They also visited Graceland during one of those tour stops in Memphis and met Elvis (see photo).
Clanton was not only a recording star, but the ‘Teen Idol’ also starred in two feature movies, “Go Johnny Go” and “Teenage Millionaire.”
He had three "Top 10" hits on the Billboard Charts, 'Just A Dream' in 1957 (No. 4 on Pop Charts/No. 1 R&B), 'Go Jimmy Go' (No. 5 in 1959) and 'Venus in Blue Jeans" (No. 7 in 1962).
Clanton now resides in Pennsylvania, but hasn’t completely retired from performing.
Along with some singing, Jimmy also has a ministry and preaches online every Sunday. He also released a book, which intertwined his music and ministry.

09/02/2026

It was 52 years ago (September 1-2, 1974) on that 'Labor Day Weekend' that the "First Annual Louisiana Country Music Jamboree" took place in Baton Rouge.
Many current or soon-to-be superstars performed at the two-day event, including the likes of Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Asleep At The Wheel, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joe Stampley, The Copas Brothers and none other than the Pascagoula, Mississippi-born Jimmy Buffett, who passed away four years ago on September 1, 2022) at the age of 76, which also happened to be 48 years to the day that he performed in Louisiana, a state that embraced him like an adopted son!

09/02/2026

It was 70 years ago tonight that Elvis Presley helped celebrate the 'Red Smith WBOX Day' at the "Hillbilly Jamboree" at Ponchartrain Beach.

09/01/2026

It was 70 years ago today (September 1, 1956) that the New Orleans-born duo of ‘Shirley & Lee” reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard R&B Chart with “Let The Good Times Roll.”
The rhythm and blues singing twosome consisted of Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee.
They had already had two big hits, “I’m Gone” in 1953 and “Feel So Good” in 1955, but both stalled at the No. 2 position on the charts.
“Let The Good Times Roll,” which was penned by Goodman and Lee, was recorded in May of 1956 at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Recording Studio in the French Quarter.
After its release that summer, it began to climb the chart, before reaching the top on September 1.
The song peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Pop Chart. A re-release in 1960, it climbed to No. 47 on the Pop Chart.
The B-side the 45 rpm single was “Do You Mean To Hurt Me So.”

09/01/2026

Happy “Heavenly” Birthday to Cajun accordion/fiddler legend and songwriter Lawrence Walker.
Walker, who was born on September 1, 1907, in the Acadia/Lafayette Parish town of Duson, began playing at age 13 in 1920, collaborating with both his father, Allen Walker, and brother Elton Walker, both fiddlers while the family was living in Orange, Texas.
In 1929, in what was called ‘The Walker Brothers Band,’ they recorded their first record on the ‘Brunswick Records’ label. The two songs on the 10-inch 78 rpm shellac were “La Breakdown La Louisiana” and “La Vie Malheureuse.”
The band performed at the ‘National Folk Festival’ in 1936.
During his career, Walker wrote several original Cajun songs, including “Reno Waltz,” “Evangeline Waltz,” “Bosco Stomp,” and “Mamou Two Step.”
He released records on the national RCA/Victory-based ‘Bluebird,’ label, as well as Louisiana labels such George Khoury’s ‘Khoury’s records’ label, Carol Rachau’s ‘La Louisianne’ label, and two of Ville Platte’s Floyd Soileau’s labels, ‘Swallow” and ‘Jin.’
The 1935 ‘Bluebird’ release included the songs “La Femme Oui Jovial Les Cartes” and “Mon Derrier Bon Soir.” Along with “Alberta” and “What’s The Matter Now?”
“Bosco Stomp” and “Waltz Of Sorrows,” and “Evangeline Waltz/Johnny Can’t Dance” both appeared one 10-inch 78 rpm shellacs on Khoury, under the billing of ‘Lawrence Walker & His Wantering Aces in the mid-1950’s.
It was then in 1961 that the local Louisiana releases came, with both “Reno Waltz” and “Mamou Two-Step” on LaLouisanne, along with another single featuring “Tits Yeux Noires” and “Allon rock And Roll.”
And then 10 years later in 1971, he released “Les Bon Temps” and “Opelousas Two Step” on the ‘Swallow’ label.
Walker died of heart failure on August 15, 1968 in Rayne at the age of 60.