"Cajun Crawl" - Hackberry Ramblers

It was the mid-'30s, a period when the Louisiana music scene was practically under unending assault from the gargantuan state of Texas directly to the west. Western swing was something that had the ear of both musicians and public, and was being broadcast throughout the Bayou State over the radio. Louisiana musicians who became interested in the style gravitated toward membership in a new type of Cajun string band in which the traditional kingpin accordion player was often told to stay at home.2  

Tu m'as pris dans ma maison,

Comme un pauvre orphelin,

Tu m'as promis de me soigner,

Jusqu'a le jour de ma mort,

Et aujourd'hui, t'es après me quitter,

'Près quitter pour t'en aller,

T'en aller avec un autre,

Chère 'tite fille, que de l'amour.

Crowley Daily Signal
Jul 17, 1936

Throughout this period, the Hackberry Ramblers took the lead in promoting this sub-genre of Cajun music.  The group ended up playing throughout the Cajun country side and by 1936, they were featured three times a week on the local radio station KVOL.  The following year, Luderin Darbone and guitarist Lennis Sonnier grabbed Crowley native Joe Werner and headed to New Orleans to record "Cajun Crawl" (#2013)

You took me into your home,

Like a poor orphan,

You promised to look after me,

Until the day that I die,

And today, you are leaving me,

Leaving to go away,

Going away with another,

Dearl little girl, which I love.

The song features Joe's hard driving harmonica playing.   It was his only recording stint with the Ramblers.  Joe would eventually leave the group to form his own series of bands after his hit song "Wondering".  Behind RCA's back, Decca approached Werner to leave RCA.   Quick to get his own act up and running, he pleaded with Darbone to jump to Decca with him.  Luderin turned him down, telling him:

RCA has been real good to us. They call us every time to come to New Orleans to make records...I don't feel like I should leave.1   

KVOL, Lafayette, LA
Joe Werner, unknown, Luderin Darbone, 
Robert Escudier, Lennis Sonnier

1. Cajun Breakdown: The Emergence of an American-Made Music By Ryan Andre Brasseaux
2. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/willie-vincent-mn0001716219
3. Lyrics by Stephane F

Release Info:
BS 07221-1 Cajun Crawl | Bluebird B-2013-A
BS 07226-1 Jai Pres Parley | Bluebird B-2013-B

Find:
Cajun Early Recordings (JSP, 2004)
Cajun Louisiane 1928-1939 (Fremeaux, 2003) Cajun Early Recordings (JSP, 2004)
Les Cajuns Best Of 2002 Les Triomphes De La Country Volume 12 (Habana, 2002)