Issue Articles
In Memoriam: Earl Bernhardt (1939-2019)
Earl Bernhardt, an entrepreneur, co-proprietor of the Tropical Isle chain of French Quarter clubs (with longtime partner Pam Fortner), friend and employer to many working musicians, and long-time president of […]
Billy Vera, Rip It Up—The Specialty Records Story (BMG)
Part of the RPM series of recent books documenting the history of U.S. independent record labels from the mid- 1940s to the late-1950s, Specialty Records was one of the most […]
Chinese Bandits: An early musical tribute to LSU football champs
As a tip of the hat to the success of the current LSU football squad, OffBeat takes pleasure in recalling a killer New Orleans R&B tribute to the Fightin’ Tigers […]
Various Artists, Blues Kings of Baton Rouge (Bear Family)
Most of this material has been around the track more times than a seven-year-old Fair Ground’s claimer. J.D. Miller’s usual suspects are in the mix, but for the first time, […]
Bobby Rush, Sitting on Top of the Blues (Deep Rush)
Blues Man Eighty-six years young with 26 albums to his credit, Bobby Rush, a native of Tallulah, Louisiana, is like Ole Man River, he just keeps rolling along. Like […]
The Beverage Roots of Swamp Pop: Who Knew?
All around the world, Swamp Pop now refers to the style of rock ‘n’ roll which is strictly indigenous to Southwest Louisiana. The music rose to popularity in the late […]
Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, “Roots and Branches: The Songs of Little Walter” (Alligator Records)
Little Walter, the master of the Hohner, was to the harmonica what Wayne Gretzky was to ice hockey, what Leonardo Da Vinci was to oil painting, what Mark Twain was […]
In Memoriam: Art Neville (1937 – 2019)
Arthur Lanon Neville—“Poppa Funk”—a keyboardist, New Orleans music icon and downright great individual, died July 22 after several years of declining health. He was 81. Jerry Wexler once described Neville’s […]
In Memoriam: Dave Bartholomew (1918 – 2019)
Described as a pioneer, an innovator, a genius, and a slave driver in the recording studio, Dave Bartholomew died at a suburban hospital June 23, 2019. He was 100. Forever […]
South To Louisiana—The Music of the Cajun Bayous 2nd Edition (Pelican Publishing)
A testament to the readability and subject matter of the 1983 first edition of South to Louisiana, is that I bought two copies of it—and they both got stolen from […]
