Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues (American Made Music) [Paperback]

Shane K. Bernard (Author)

Book Description

Series: American Made Music | Publication Date: September 1, 1996

A search for the sources and sounds of an often overlooked sister genre of Cajun and zydeco music

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Don't fret if you never notice the latest swamp pop hit blaring out of the music store at the mall. The sad truth is, you probably won't find many of the artists mentioned in this thoroughly researched and well-documented book alongside the Jerry Lee Lewis or Neville Brothers discs. Unless, that is, you live deep in the heart of Louisiana bayou country, where this frisky subgenre of rock and roll really has its hold. If swamp pop never garnered broad national attention, this anonymity may have been a blessing, allowing the various influences--mostly acoustic Creole and Cajun folk music and Detroit- and Chicago-style electric rhythm and blues--to evolve uninterrupted into an even more flavorful musical gumbo. Written for the serious musicologist more than for the casual radio listener, Swamp Pop simultaneously chronicles the achievements of the subgroup's earliest movers and shakers (Johnny Preston, Cookie and the Cupcakes) as well as the efforts of its few contemporary practitioners (C.C. Adcock). Bernard forgoes drawing many parallels to better-known bands or subgenres, but Creedence Clearwater Revival and their San Francisco peers in the '60s and this country's current underground garage-band scene immediately pop to mind. That said, Bernard's annotated discography and endnotes should lead the most curious reader in the right direction.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Son of Louisiana swamp pop musician Rod Bernard, the author, who has written various articles on the history and music of Louisiana and is the compiler of several retrospective swamp pop CDs, draws on his master's thesis for this comprehensive work. Bernard considers swamp pop to be a Creole/Cajun hybrid form unique to southern Louisiana and southeast Texas, whose golden age was from 1958 to 1963. Though much of this music achieved popularity only in the area, several records became national hits, Phil Phillip's "Sea of Love" (1959) being one of the better known examples. Bernard makes good use of the musical connections that few others would have to analyze the music and profile some of the musicians who made it. Moreover, he ties swamp pop into the rich cultural history of the region and investigates the music's surprisingly wide influence. Little has been written on swamp pop, making this a desirable selection for ethnic music and regional collections.?James E. Ross, WLN, Seattle
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878058761
• ISBN-13: 978-0878058761
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A Cajun from Lafayette, Louisiana, Shane K. Bernard holds a Ph.D. in History from Texas A&M University, as well as degrees in History and English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Bernard is often consulted by the media as an expert on south Louisiana history and culture. He has appeared on The History Channel, The Food Network, NPR's "Morning Edition," CNN, CNBC, the CBC, and the BBC, as well as in the pages of National Geographic.

He serves as official historian and curator to McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand products since 1868, and to its sister company, Avery Island, Inc., which traces its origin to 1818.

He is the son of 1950s rock 'n' roll (or swamp pop) musician Rod Bernard, whose hit songs include "This Should Go On Forever" and "Colinda."

Bernard lives in New Iberia, Louisiana, a short distance from the historic Bayou Teche.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Forgotten Genre Chronicled, December 19, 2000

By 

Kevin Fontenot (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues (American Made Music) (Paperback)

Louisiana musicians have always gone their own way, fusing elements of various styles to create music of stunning beauty. One of the most creative and finely crafted forms is Swamp Pop, a fusion of Cajun, R & B, country, and pop styles. Shane Bernard has written a definative history of Swamp Pop based on extensive interviews with the makers of the sound. He discusses the diverse background of the music and its interracial origins. This book is essential for any collection of American music.

5.0 out of 5 stars Cajun Music History, March 12, 2009

By 

Grancy (Deep South...Carlyss, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues (American Made Music) (Paperback)

A must read if you love Cajun music, including Swamp Pop. The author has researched and interviewed the musicians and the history of music in southern Louisiana. You will go down memory lane with the names you remember and still love to listen to. Good source for this music is cajunradio.net, where you can hear the Acadian culture online.

5.0 out of 5 stars Swamp Pop Bible, September 26, 2004

By 

John Preble "UCM Museum Director" (ABITA SPRINGS, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues (American Made Music) (Paperback)

This is a good book because it covers the subject of "Southwest Louisiana Pop" music in great detail. Lots of names and quotes of the people who shaped the sound. The author did his homework and the reader gets a lot of info - a LOT. I have read this book several times because it is a great refresher course on the musicians, promoters, the night clubs, and what all.