Zydeco music is enjoying the best of times and worst of times. Today, the music has more bands that ever in its history. Cajun bands, who once refused to touch the music with a ten-foot pole, are playing the music, sometimes exclusively.

Bands, who are willing to travel, are finding gigs from Long Beach, California to Raamsdonksveer, Holland. Many European festivals even have their own hometown zydeco bands.

But as zydeco has crossed racial, cultural and geographic lines, the music’s original dancehalls in southwest Louisiana are being lost in the transition. The death knell sounded June 19 for Hamilton’s Place in Lafayette, commonly called The Hamilton Club, which closed after 49 years in business.

The long, wooden roadhouse, known for its low ceiling and bouncing dance floor, once showcased Grammy winners like Clifton Chenier and Rockin’ Sidney, along with Rockin’ Dopsie, Beau Jocque and other legends. But owner William Hamilton said personal health concerns and shrinking crowds have forced him to put the club up for sale.

“I had open heart surgery five years ago and I have some more blockage coming,” said Hamilton, 76. “The doctor said it would be best for me to let it go. I haven’t booked a band, myself, in five years,” added Hamilton, who had been renting the club to bands and sponsors. “The bands couldn’t bring a crowd, not enough to pay for me to do it. The only ones the people come to see are Geno [Delafose], Keith Frank and [Curley] Taylor. I couldn’t depend on that. The crowd changed a lot. The older people started going to bingo or the casino.”

The last dance was a Father’s Day, double attraction featuring Geno Delafose and Keith Frank. A standing room only crowd of more than 500 spilled onto the dance floor on the first note of Delafose and his band, French Rockin’ Boogie.

An hour into the dance, the packed house had spilled outside with couples dancing on the front porch and in the parking lot. Hamilton visited with patrons who shared their fond memories of the place and sadness over its closing.

But longtime fan Moriba Karamako perhaps put the situation in the best perspective. “Everything has a season, a beginning and an end,” said Karamako. “The center of the music has changed and that’s just the sad reality. There are clubs that black folks couldn’t go in that are now programming zydeco music. That’s the hard reality of it.

“That part is good, that places have opened up a little more. Places like this have their historical significance. Whether they’re opened or closed, they’re going to retain that.”

Across town, El Sido’s Zydeco and Blues Club may be the next zydeco dancehall to follow in Hamilton’s footsteps.  Owner Sid Williams said dwindling crowds may shut down his club, after 20 years in business.

Williams, who also operates Sid’s One Stop convenience store and manages his brother’s band, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, said he’s had to take money from his other businesses to keep the club afloat.

“If things don’t change with me, I’m going to close El Sido’s and rent it to somebody else,” said Williams. “I’ll keep promoting the zydeco with the band, but I can’t fight the club much longer.

“The bands should get together and not just give one club a break, but give everybody a break. Because once we’re all gone, where are the musicians going to go?”

LE CAJUN AWARDS

Don Fontenot and Jackie Caillier are the top nominees at the 2005 Le Cajun Awards and Festival, set for August 19-21 in Lafayette. The annual event is sponsored by the Cajun French Music Association, a non-profit organization that has been promoting Cajun music, language and culture since 1984. Le Cajun awards are Grammy-style trophies given to top artists selected by the CFMA. This year, the awards ceremony (set for August 19) moves from Blackham Coliseum to the more cozy confines of the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette. The rest of the festival remains at Blackham Coliseum.

Le Cajun nominees for 2005 include: Accordionist of the Year – Don Fontenot, Jackie Caillier, Jean Jacques Aucoin. Fiddler of the Year – Mitch Reed, Benny Mueller, Jason Bergeron. Male Vocalist of the Year – Don Fontenot, Ivy Dugas, Barry Cormier. Female Vocalist of the Year – Les Amies Louisianaises, Buffy Lewis, Sybil Miller. Best First Recording of the Year – T-Salé, Charlie Rogers and the Lafayette Playboys, Acadian Cajun Band. Best Recording of the Year – Ride The Donkey, Don Fontenot et Les Amis de la Louisiane; A Bit of Two Worlds, Jackie Caillier and the Cajun Cousins; From the Heart, Ed Gary and the Louisiana Aces. Song of the Year – “Biggest Fool in the World, Ivy Dugas from Greatest Hits and More; “Pop, Quoi Faire T’es Gone,” Layton Thibodeaux from Ride The Donkey; “La Dernier Demande,” Kevin Naquin and Johnny Allen from Never Satisfied. Band of the Year – Don Fontenot et Les Amis de La Louisiane, Jackie Caillier and the Cajun Cousins, Al Roger and Louisiana Pride.

The festival continues August 20-21 with live music at Blackham Coliseum.

August 20: 9 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies; 9:25 a.m. – Introduction of queens; 9:45 a.m. – CFMA founder Harry LaFleur; 10 a.m. – Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys; 12 p.m. – Queen’s dance contest; 12:30 p.m. – Chapter dance troupe performance; 12:30 p.m. – Jackie Caillier and the Cajun Cousins; 3 p.m. – Bubba Brown and the Super Cajuns; 5:30 p.m. – Donny Broussard and the Louisiana Stars.

August 21: 10 a.m. – Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys; 12 p.m. – Crowning of the Le Cajun Queen; 12:30 p.m. – Lee Benoit and the Bayou Stompers; 3 p.m. – Don Fontenot et Les Amis de la Louisiane.

For more festival information, visit www.cajunfrenchmusic.org.

Contact Herman Fuselier at [email protected].