"La Breakdown A Pete" - Hackberry Ramblers

The Hackberry Ramblers were a western-swing group that employed Cajun French lyrics in many of their tunes.  The group, named after the town of Hackberry, Louisiana, started with Luderin Darbonne and Edwin Duhon.  Later in 1933, as their popularity spread, new musicians were added. The Ramblers began regular radio broadcasts, driving from Hackberry to radio station KFDM in the old Majestic Hotel in Lake Charles to make early morning broadcasts.1

According to the recollection of Crawford Vincent, the first drummer to be employed by a Cajun band, the Ramblers played their first club dance in the Blue Andrus Dance Hall in late 1933. They were applauded.  In 1935, the Ramblers moved to Crowley, which was centrally located to the spots across south Louisiana and east Texas where they were being booked.1

Pete Duhon, working as electrician

By 1937, the group had changed and added Claude "Pete" Duhon Sr. to the band's mix.   In 1938, the lineup changed.  Lennis Sonnier got married and was replaced by Floyd Shreve.  Luderin hired Floyd's brother, Danny Shreve shortly afterwards.  Crawford Vincent notes that the Shreve Boys had played with Leo Soileau previously and were good musicians.  Both were local boys who joined by the Ramblers first bassist, Claude "Pete" Duhon, a Crowley native.2  They entitled the instrumental song "La Breakdown A Pete", likely as an ode to their bass player.   

Hackberry Ramblers
Minus Broussard, Crawford Vincent,
Luderin Darbone, Jack Theriot

Pete had come to Luderin, wanting to learn an instrument and begin playing in the band.  So Luderin helped him after he had bought a bass fiddle for $15.00 from a local black man.2  Pete played with the group while working as an electrician in Vermilion parish.  However, this session would be their last before WWII, and the last recordings of Pete completely.   Luderin got married and moved back to Hackberry, and suddenly, their recording career would cease.  

Luderin speculated on why Bluebird Records never called them back:

I suppose they couldn't find me.2 

1. "Hackberry Ramblers Making music since 1933". DON KINGERY. American Press, Friday, September 24, 2004
2. Discussions with Ron Yule

Find:
The Cajuns: Songs, Waltzes, & Two-Steps (Folkways, 1971)