The Mississippi River was a one mile walk to the east. Continue Reading
Cajuns, Rednecks, And Longhairs: Notes On The Celebration Of Life Music Festival in Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana

Notes On The Celebration Of Life Music Festival in Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana (photo: Opelousas Daily World)
It should have been the biggest party Louisiana ever saw. The Celebration of Life in 1971 was to be a deep south version of Woodstock where the hippies, rednecks and Cajuns all beat their feet in unison on that sweet Point Coupee, Parish mud. Continue Reading
Music From The Devil’s Swamp: Notes On The Life Of Silas Hogan
I don’t believe the blues gonna die, the blues was here when nothing else was here and I think it’ll be here when everything else is gone, it’s gonna be right here.
In his later years Louisiana bluesman Silas Hogan had the appearance of a country minister. He kept his snowy white hair cropped close, and favored brilliant white dress shirts with slacks and well-polished shoes. Of course the man wore a necktie. Continue Reading
No Nightclubs in Angola: The Life Of New Orleans Rapper C-Murder
Papa didn’t raise me / mama didn’t care for me / a bastard child / no future no hope
When Louisiana State Police lofted a helicopter into the air above St John The Baptist Parish in March of 1998 they had no idea they were about to take down one of New Orleans most famous rappers. Continue Reading
Austin Leslie Was New Orleans Creole Fried Chicken King
Cop Shoot Cop: The Sordid Tale Of Antoinette Frank
New Orleans Boxer Joe Dorsey Jr Fought Jim Crow With The Sweet Science
That’s a rule codified by the Louisiana State Athletic Commission, an agency of the State of Louisiana with “full authority, regulation and control over all boxing and wrestling contests or exhibitions in the state” Continue Reading
Notes on New Orleans Contract Killer Garelle ‘Jigga’ Smith
But on November 26th, 2003, Slim broke his cardinal rule, and left his pistol in his truck while he dashed into his mama’s house on Lafaye Street in Gentilly. Continue Reading