Hackberry Ramblers
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Hackberry Ramblers | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Riverside Ramblers |
| Origin | Hackberry, Louisiana |
| Genres | Cajun, country, Western swing, jazz, and blues |
| Years active | 1930–2005[1] |
| Labels | Bluebird, Montgomery Ward, De Luxe, Arhoolie, Goldband |
| Past members |
|
The Hackberry Ramblers, also known as the Riverside Ramblers, is a Cajun music band based in Hackberry, Louisiana, formed in 1933. Since the late 1930s, it has become one of the most recognized names and influential groups in Cajun music.[citation needed]
The group, which continues to tour and perform, has one of the longest histories of a musical group in the United States of America, and while its lineup has changed many times since its conception, its founders—fiddler Luderin Darbone (1913–2008) and accordionist Edwin Duhon (1910–2006)—led the band until Duhon's death in 2006. While the roots of the band lie in its Cajun music repertoire, the Ramblers perform a broad swath of American music, from Western swing to blues and rockabilly.
Early years
[edit | edit source]In 1930, fiddler Luderin Darbone and guitarist Edwin Duhon met in Hackberry, Louisiana, and began playing music together. Although Duhon initially played accordion, his instrument fell into disrepair and was unable to be replaced; furthermore, the Nashville country music becoming popular via radio had no accordions. Therefore, Duhon opted to play guitar, and the initial lineup was one fiddle and two guitars.[2]
By 1933, they were on the radio and signed with RCA's Bluebird Records. Around this time, Darbone and Duhon created the name "Hackberry Ramblers". "We wanted a name that was catchy and could be announced on the radio," said Darbone in an interview, adding that they were the first Cajun band to create a group name rather than use individual musicians' names.[2] These radio broadcasts took place from the Majestic Hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana on KFBL. In 1936, the Hackberry Ramblers recorded "Jolie Blonde", "Oh Josephine, Ma Josephine", "One Step De L'Amour" ,and "Faux Pas Tu Bray Cherie".[3] Darbone and Duhon were the first musicians to bring electronic amplification to area dance halls, sometime in 1932 or later, running a public address system off the idling engine of Darbone's Model-A Ford.[2][4]
Their eclectic repertoire included Cajun music, country music and Western swing, jazz music, and blues music in both English and French, playing songs from artists including Bob Wills, Jimmie Rodgers, and Bessie Smith.[5] Due to a sponsorship deal with Montgomery Ward, the band adopted the name "The Riverside Ramblers".[citation needed]
Guitarist and vocalist Joe Werner (1909–1978) joined the Riverside Ramblers in 1936, and the group recorded "Wondering" in 1937. However, Werner left the group the following year.[citation needed]
Later years and legacy
[edit | edit source]In the 1960s, the band found renewed interest when Chris Strachwitz (1931–2023) of Arhoolie Records began recording them.[6] The band performed at festivals, including FitzGerald's American Music Festival in 1997.[7]
In 2002, Darbone and Duhon received a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts.[8]
Prior to Duhon's death in 2006, the final membership of the band included Darbone, Duhon, Ben Sandmel on drums, Glen Croker (died 2011)[9] on guitar, and Johnny Faulk on bass.[citation needed]
The Country Music Hall of Fame has honored the group; it holds enshrined many of the founding members' instruments.[citation needed]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ "Luderin Darbone: Fiddle player and bandleader at the forefront of Cajun music" www.independent.co.uk
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- ^ "American Music Festival - FitzGerald's (Berwyn, IL)". No Depression, by Linda Ray, August 31, 1997
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Other sources
[edit | edit source]- Musician Edwin Duhon dead at 95 United Press International, Inc. Retrieved 20 Mar 2006.
- Sandmel, Ben. "Cajun At The Country Music Hall Of Fame". ZydE-Zine. Retrieved 14 August 2005.
- John Wirt, "‘Hackberry Ramblers’ Co-Founder Dead [Luderin Darbone] at 95," The Advocate [Baton Rouge, La.], 23 November 2008, http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/34944819.html, accessed 1 December 2008.
- Luderin Darbone 1913-2008 Archived December 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Arhoolie Records.
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