Louisiana Voice

The first comprehensive study of Louisiana popular music, from R&B to rockabilly, from blues to Cajun/zydeco, Louisiana Rocks is the culmination of years of research. Inspired by a suggestion from the late John Fred, Tom Aswell explores the very roots of rock. His findings: despite claims to the contrary, rock & roll was born in New Orleans a full four years before Ike Turner’s 1951 recording of Rocket 88.

It was 1947 when Roy Brown, still stinging from the rejection of his song by Wynonie Harris, entered Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio to record his own version of Good Rockin’ Tonight, a song Elvis Presley would cover in 1954. As soon as it became evident that Brown’s song was a hit, Harris had a sudden change of heart and rushed into the studio to record it himself and it was his version that was selected by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as One of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll.

With the merger of blues and country, the floodgates were thrown open and the country was suddenly made aware of artists like Smiley Lewis, Irma Thomas, Benny Spellman, Ernie K-Doe, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Clanton, Dale & Grace, Johnny Rivers, Guitar Slim, Slim Harpo, Joe Tex, Joe Simon, Rod Bernard, Professor Longhair, Johnny Allan, T.K. Hulin, Tommy McLain, the Dixie Cups, Deacon John, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Horton, Janis Joplin, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Buffett, LeRoux, Tab Benoit, Tabby Thomas, Chris Thomas King, Barbara Lynn, Van Broussard, the Fabulous Boogie Kings, Edgar and Johnny Winter, Huey Meaux, Dale Hawkins, Johnny Adams, and the inspiration for this book, John Fred.

The songwriter who wrote Hit the Road Jack for Ray Charles is from Louisiana as is the composer of both Abraham, Martin & John and Snoopy & the Red Baron. Larry Henley, who wrote Wind Beneath My Wings, previously worked in the oil fields of New Iberia and was a member of the Newbeats. The other two members of the Newbeats were from Bossier City. Merle Kilgore of Shreveport co-wrote with June Carter the Johnny Cash mega-hit Ring of Fire. King also wrote Wolverton Mountain, a huge hit for Shreveport’s Claude King.

Then there are the sidemen, or session artists, musicians who labored in obscurity but whose contributions to Louisiana music are priceless. Four guitar players (Duke Bardwell, Gerry McGee, Fred Carter, Jr., and James Burton), a pianist (Floyd Cramer), and a drummer (D.J. Fontana) all are from Louisiana and each either recorded with or toured with Elvis. Earl Palmer is one of the most recorded drummers in the history of popular music, playing on recordings of artists too numerous to mention. Jon Smith of the Fabulous Boogie Kings played sax on almost all of the Doobie Brothers’ recordings. Floyd Cramer had a gigantic hit of Last Date which made it all the way to number 2 on the Billboard charts. The song that kept out of the number 1 position was It’s Now or Never, a song by Elvis on which Cramer also played piano.

Tom Aswell grew up in Ruston an avid baseball fan. Following his graduation from Ruston High School, he put off college to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. Upon his discharge, he started working at the Ruston Daily Leader as sports editor before enrolling at nearby Louisiana Tech University with an eye to becoming a baseball coach. Fate intervened, however, when Wiley Hilburn, only recently appointed head of Tech’s Journalism Department, convinced Aswell to give up his aspirations of coaching in favor of a writing career.

Following his graduation with a degree in journalism in 1970, Aswell worked for a number of papers, including the Shreveport Times and Journal, the Monroe News-Star, Morning World, the Baton Rouge State-Times, and three more stops at the Daily Leader. He won numerous awards for breaking news coverage, feature writing, and investigative reporting. In 1980, he opened his own news bureau in the State Capitol in Baton Rouge where he provided coverage of state government for about forty weekly and small daily newspapers throughout the state.

In 1967, while attending Tech, Aswell met and fell in love with a Tech student from nearby Simsboro. He and the former Betty Gray were married in 1968. They and their chiweenie dog reside in Denham Springs—within 10 miles of their three lovely daughters, two special sons-in-law, and seven beautiful grandchildren. He continues to write when not spending time with family or attending LSU baseball games.

What Ernie K-Doe did with his first royalty check from Mother-In-Law.

How Bill Haley “cleaned up” the lyrics to Big Joe Turner’s Shake Rattle & Roll but inadvertently left in the most risqué line.

About actor Robert Mitchum’s getting arrested in New Orleans for “mingling” at the Dew Drop Inn and about how Allen Toussaint nearly got arrested in Dallas for simply buying a new car.

How Dale & Grace got a number-1 hit even though the strings were laid down on the recording track in the wrong key.

How a future rock, R&B, jazz, blues, country, and pop legend produced and played piano on Guitar Slim’s classic The Things That I Used to Do.

How a $25 recording session in Shreveport’s KWKH studios produced one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll.

How a singer born in Pascagoula, Mississippi started out as a street performer in New Orleans and went on to become a one-man multi-million dollar entertainment conglomerate.

About where Kris Kristofferson was when he wrote the memorable line “Freedom is just another word for nothin’ left to lose” for Janis Joplin’s Me and Bobby McGee.

How Janis Joplin got her musical education in the honky tonks and road houses of southwest Louisiana.

How a Lake Charles hotel bellhop wrote and recorded an all-time classic hit with the instrumental backing of Cookie & the Cupcakes.

How a singer wore his full baseball uniform when he recorded his very first record and that record became the first debut record by any singer to hit number 1.

How an obscure Louisiana singer outsold Patsy Cline’s version of the same song and how that song became a certified WHH (whorehouse hit).

The first comprehensive study of Louisiana popular music, from R&B to rockabilly, from blues to Cajun/zydeco, Louisiana Rocks is the culmination of years of research. Inspired by a suggestion from the late John Fred, Tom Aswell explores the very roots of rock. His findings: despite claims to the contrary, rock & roll was born in New Orleans a full four years before Ike Turner’s 1951 recording of Rocket 88.

It was 1947 when Roy Brown, still stinging from the rejection of his song by Wynonie Harris, entered Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio to record his own version of Good Rockin’ Tonight, a song Elvis Presley would cover in 1954. As soon as it became evident that Brown’s song was a hit, Harris had a sudden change of heart and rushed into the studio to record it himself and it was his version that was selected by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as One of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll.

With the merger of blues and country, the floodgates were thrown open and the country was suddenly made aware of artists like Smiley Lewis, Irma Thomas, Benny Spellman, Ernie K-Doe, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Clanton, Dale & Grace, Johnny Rivers, Guitar Slim, Slim Harpo, Joe Tex, Joe Simon, Rod Bernard, Professor Longhair, Johnny Allan, T.K. Hulin, Tommy McLain, the Dixie Cups, Deacon John, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Horton, Janis Joplin, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Buffett, LeRoux, Tab Benoit, Tabby Thomas, Chris Thomas King, Barbara Lynn, Van Broussard, the Fabulous Boogie Kings, Edgar and Johnny Winter, Huey Meaux, Dale Hawkins, Johnny Adams, and the inspiration for this book, John Fred.

The songwriter who wrote Hit the Road Jack for Ray Charles is from Louisiana as is the composer of both Abraham, Martin & John and Snoopy & the Red Baron. Larry Henley, who wrote Wind Beneath My Wings, previously worked in the oil fields of New Iberia and was a member of the Newbeats. The other two members of the Newbeats were from Bossier City. Merle Kilgore of Shreveport co-wrote with June Carter the Johnny Cash mega-hit Ring of Fire. King also wrote Wolverton Mountain, a huge hit for Shreveport’s Claude King.

Then there are the sidemen, or session artists, musicians who labored in obscurity but whose contributions to Louisiana music are priceless. Four guitar players (Duke Bardwell, Gerry McGee, Fred Carter, Jr., and James Burton), a pianist (Floyd Cramer), and a drummer (D.J. Fontana) all are from Louisiana and each either recorded with or toured with Elvis. Earl Palmer is one of the most recorded drummers in the history of popular music, playing on recordings of artists too numerous to mention. Jon Smith of the Fabulous Boogie Kings played sax on almost all of the Doobie Brothers’ recordings. Floyd Cramer had a gigantic hit of Last Date which made it all the way to number 2 on the Billboard charts. The song that kept out of the number 1 position was It’s Now or Never, a song by Elvis on which Cramer also played piano.

About The Author Tom Aswell grew up in Ruston an avid baseball fan. Following his graduation from Ruston High School, he put off college to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. Upon his discharge, he started working at the Ruston Daily Leader as sports editor before enrolling at nearby Louisiana Tech University with an eye to becoming a baseball coach. Fate intervened, however, when Wiley Hilburn, only recently appointed head of Tech’s Journalism Department, convinced Aswell to give up his aspirations of coaching in favor of a writing career. Following his graduation with a degree in journalism in 1970, Aswell worked for a number of papers, including the Shreveport Times and Journal, the Monroe News-Star, Morning World, the Baton Rouge State-Times, and three more stops at the Daily Leader. He won numerous awards for breaking news coverage, feature writing, and investigative reporting. In 1980, he opened his own news bureau in the State Capitol in Baton Rouge where he provided coverage of state government for about forty weekly and small daily newspapers throughout the state.
The following year Aswell approached Baton Rouge singer John Fred Gourrier (Judy in Disguise, Agnes English) with a unique proposition. Aswell suggested that the two work to produce a video of Louisiana rock & roll singers. Fred was enthusiastic about the project but it was 1981; the oil patch had just dried up and interest rates were off the charts so there were no investors to be found. Fred, in a moment of inspiration told Aswell, “You’re a writer so why don’t you write a book?” Aswell didn’t act on the suggestion until April 15, 2005. That was the day John Fred passed away in Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Aswell started writing Louisiana Rocks! The True Genesis of Rock & Roll the next day. The book is dedicated to John Fred’s memory. In 1967, while attending Tech, Aswell met and fell in love with a Tech student from nearby Simsboro. He and the former Betty Gray were married in 1968. They and their chiweenie dog reside in Denham Springs—within 10 miles of their three lovely daughters, two special sons-in-law, and seven beautiful grandchildren. He continues to write when not spending time with family or attending LSU baseball games.
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