Before there was Thursday night zydeco at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl, a zydeco cruise and zydeco festivals across the United States and Europe, there was Richard’s Club in Lawtell. Richard’s (pronounced REE-shards), an old-style wooden roadhouse with low ceilings and a bouncing dance floor, has showcased the latest and greatest zydeco musicians for the past 57 years and earned the nickname, the Grand Ole Opry of Zydeco.
Kermon Richard, the club’s owner and operator, said Richard’s success came from entertaining bands and large crowds. Richard said the crowd was often more important than the musicians.
“As long as you have a big crowd, people will come and have a good time,” said Richard in a 2002 interview. “You can have the best band and if people pass and don’t see a crowd, they won’t come in. But if they see a big crowd, they’ll come and then tell everybody they had so much fun. I could be on stage playing an old foot tub. If the place is packed, people will say, ‘Boy, Kermon was really playing that old tub. We sure had a good time.’”
Fans are remembering Richard, who suffered a fatal heart attack November 7 at his residence next to the club. Richard was eulogized November 13 at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawtell.
Richard’s unexpected death was front page news in the Opelousas Daily World and was reported by USA Today, the Associated Press and numerous media outlets and Internet sites across the globe.
Gene Chambers and his wife, Juella, of LeBeau, Louisiana were among the hundreds who attended Richard’s funeral. Chambers said the club was not just a dancehall, but a helping hand in time of need.
“I lost my son in a car accident back in 1992,” said Gene Chambers, whose son Geno, a guitarist with John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys, died just a few hours after playing at Richard’s. “He lined up a bunch of bands and raised money to help us with expenses from the loss of our son.
“Just a couple of weeks ago, because I had been sick, he wouldn’t let my wife and I pay to go in the dance. He just wanted to do that. He was a man who couldn’t do too much for you. He really meant a lot to the community. As far as zydeco, I don’t know what it’s going to be like without Kermon.”
Kermon kept alive a tradition that has been in the Richard family since 1947. His father, Eddie, opened the club as a place for the children to dance and have fun. Neighbors in Lawtell soon joined in.
“We still have benches along the wall, but those benches are actually baby beds,” said Richard in 2002. “People used to bring their babies, turn the chairs backwards against the benches and let the babies sleep there while they go dance.”
The club quickly became an attraction throughout St. Landry Parish and beyond. In the 1950s, rhythm and blues artists performed, such as Big Joe Turner, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and many others. Boxing matches and movies were sometimes held there.
But zydeco has always been the club’s heart and soul. From newcomers to Grammy winners Clifton Chenier and Rockin’ Sidney, they weren’t officially zydeco musicians until they played Richard’s.
Beau Jocque, who went on to play on the David Letterman and Conan O’Brien shows before his death, practiced at Richard’s when few people knew who he was. In 1989, zydeco godfather Boozoo Chavis recorded a comeback album, Zydeco Live!, one of two landmarks LPs on Rounder Records that also included John Delafose, Willis Prudhomme and then-newcomer, Nathan Williams.
Careers even ended at Richard’s. In 1994, John Delafose suffered a fatal heart attack on the club’s stage. All the while, Time magazine, NPR, CBS and others media outlets and documentary makers were sneaking in to write stories.
Kermon took over club operations when his father died in 1979. “We always try to give the people what they like and provide them the best entertainment,” Richard once said. “We kept the prices reasonable so people would come back. The farmers couldn’t afford to pay a whole lot. At one time, this and the movies at the Delta or the Yam (theaters) was the only entertainment they had.”
The Richard family has announced that after a period of mourning, the club will reopen. Richard operated the place with Ann Marie, his wife of 42 years. The couple had three children—Kermon Jr., Annette Papillion and Rachel Miller—who all live in Lawtell.
OTHER NEWS
In other news, two popular country music tributes are set to the return to the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The Fifth Annual Tribute to Hank Williams, Sr. takes place at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. December 18.
The Fourth Annual Old Tyme Country Show will be held at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. January 8, 2005. Tickets are $10 for each show and all seats are reserved.
Don Helms, the original steel guitar player on Hank Williams’ classic songs, will play perform on both shows. Other guests for the December 18 show include vocalists Hugh Harris, D.L. Menard, Pope Huval, fiddler Gina Forsyth and members of the Jambalaya Cajun Band.
Additional guests for the January 8 show include Vin Bruce, Helen Boudreaux and the Berard Family (Al, Karleen, Laura and Meagan).
Proceeds from the shows support the theater, a historic building that has been home of the Saturday night, all-French Rendez-vous des Cajuns radio and TV shows. A favorite of tourists from around the world. Rendez-Vous has showcased Cajun and zydeco musicians for the past 18 years.
Proceeds from the country music shows have generated more than $12,000 of new revenue for the theater. Terry Huval, fiddler and vocalist with Jambalaya, organized the shows not only to raise funds, but to fill in the open holiday weekends at the Liberty. Huval has been pleased each show has been met with capacity crowds. “As always, the audience can expect to hear some great stories and great music—all performed in vintage Hank-style,” said Huval. “We plan to keep the decor and approach consistent with the era of those great songs.
“As in the past, we will center on the country music of the era of the 1940s and 1950s. Of course we’ll have a few surprises, but the audience can expect a great nostalgic walk back in time. We will keep the music simple, direct and sincere—just like it was meant to be. The volume and the stage environment will be comfortable to both the ears and eyes.”
Tickets are available at the Eunice City Hall. To order or receive more information, call (337) 457-7389.
Contact Herman Fuselier at [email protected].
