Leroy Leblanc Explained

Leroy Leblanc
Birth Name:Leroy Leblanc
Alias:Happy Fats
Birth Date:30 January 1915[1] [2]
Birth Place:Rayne, Louisiana, United States
Instrument:Cajun accordion, guitar, vocals
Genre:Cajun
Occupation:Accordionist, guitarist, vocalist
Associated Acts:Rayne-Bo Ramblers, Happy, Doc, and the Boys
Label:RCA, Bluebird, Decca, Feature, De Luxe, Rebel[3]

Leroy "Happy Fats" Leblanc (January 30, 1915 – February 23, 1988) was a Cajun swing musician that recorded with RCA Records in the 1930s and 1940s. He is known for his recordings with Harry Choates and his broadcasts on KVOL. Next to the Hackberry Ramblers, the Rayne-Bo Ramblers were the most popular and innovative of the Cajun string bands.[4]

Family

Leroy was born on January 30, 1915 Rayne, Louisiana to Gilbert Leblanc and Carrie Bird Hoffpauir. He married Della Meche.[5] He traded rice in order to purchase his first guitar.[6]

Music and career

In 1932, his career started when he played guitar with Joe Falcon and Amedee Breaux. Later, in 1935, he would create the band known as the "Rayne-Bo Ramblers" which started as the backup band for Nathan Abshire[7] [8] and played regularly at the OST Club in Rayne.[9] The band featured people such as "Rang Tang Bully" Joe Werner, Harry Choates, Oran "Doc" Guidry, Nathan Abshire and many more. By 1940, he and Harry recorded their first hit, "La Veuve de la Coulee". In 1941, the band split up and Happy joined Leo Soileau's "Rhythm Boys". Later, he would tour with Tex Ritter and appear on the world-famous Louisiana Hayride.[10]

By 1953, every morning on KVOL, Happy would play popular Cajun bands on his radio talk show. That same year, he would meet with John Pusateri, formed the "Bayou Buckaroos", and recorded with Bella Records of San Jose.[11] [12] In his later years, Happy Fats signed up with J. D. "Jay" Miller's "Reb Rebel Records". In 1966, he recorded popular segregationist tunes, including one entitled "Dear Mr. President".

Legacy

On November 9, 1980, Governor Edwin Edwards declared the day "Happy Fats" Leblanc Day.[13] He suffered from diabetes and died in 1988.

Discography

Compilations

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AllMusic. Happy Fats.. Ankeny. Jason. . June 6, 2014.
  2. Book: South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. registration. Broven. John. 324. 1983. Pelican Publishing. 978-0882896083.
  3. Book: The Encyclopedia of Country Music. McCall. Michael. Coffey. Kevin. 212. 2012. Oxford University Press. 978-0195395631.
  4. Web site: American Routes. Traditions and innovations in U.S. musical culture. "La Veuve De La Coulee.". June 6, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714112406/http://disc.library.emory.edu/americanroutes/geographies/south-louisiana/. July 14, 2014. mdy-all.
  5. Web site: Leroy "Happy Fats" LeBlanc. June 6, 2014.
  6. Web site: Bradshaw. Jim. C'EST VRAI: HAPPY FATS HEARD NATIONWIDE. June 6, 2014.
  7. Web site: Discogs. Rayne-Bo Ramblers.. . June 6, 2014.
  8. Book: All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide To Popular Music. Leonard. Hal. 856. 2001. 4th. Backbeat Books. 978-0879306274.
  9. Web site: AllMusic. Leroy "Happy Fats" LeBlanc.. Chadbourne. Eugene. . June 6, 2014.
  10. Web site: Laird. Tracey E. W.. Country Chameleons: Cajuns on the Louisiana Hayride. June 6, 2014.
  11. Web site: Hillbilly-Music dawt com. Happy Fats and the Bayou Buckaroos.. June 6, 2014.
  12. News: Folk Talent and Tunes. The Billboard. 41. June 6, 1953.
  13. Book: South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. registration. Broven. John. 24. 1983. Pelican Publishing. 978-0882896083.

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