"Darbone's Creole Stomp" - Hackberry Ramblers

The Hackberry Ramblers were one of the first Cajun string bands in the rnid-1930s to imitate the swing sounds from Texas (such as Bob Wills, Milton Brown and the Light Crust Doughboys), but they also played the latest jazz tunes of the time, such as "High Society", re-titled after a local town, called "Vinton's High Society", and "Careless Love". The Hackberry Ramblers were one of the first Cajun groups to use amplification in dance halls and they were the first band to record a string band arrangement of "Jolie Blonde" that is still heard today.1 

Radio waves emanating from Texas, Shreveport, and New Orleans ignored south Louisiana's cultural boundaries as they crisscrossed Cajun Country and spilled Western swing, hillbilly music, and jazz across the region.2  Influenced by music across the boarder, the original members got their big break when they were invited to play on the radio. Darbonne stated:

There were no radio stations in southwest Louisiana.  Not until the Lafayette's KVOL and Lake Charles KPLC came on air in 1935.2 

(top) Lennis Sonnier, Claude "Pete" Duhon,
(bottom) Luderin Darbonne, possibly Floyd Shreve

By 1937, several members changed out and landed in New Orleans recording for RCA's Bluebird Records at the St. Charles Hotel.   There, they recorded a rendition of the 1929 Harrington, Landry & Stewart instrumental "La Stomp Creole", re-titled as "Darbone's Creole Stomp"  (#2025).  Along with "Darbone's Breakdown", this is one of two songs which were odes to the band's founder, Luderin Darbone.  The recording featured Darbone on fiddle, Lennis Sonnier and Floyd Shreve on guitars, and Claude "Pete" Duhon on bass.  After the war, musicians such as Nathan Abshire re-titled the melody again as the "Hathaway Two Step". 

1. J'ai Ete Au Bal Vol. 1.  ARhoolie CD 331.  Liner notes.
2. Cajun Breakdown: The Emergence of an American-Made Music By Ryan Andre Brasseaux

Release Info:

BS 14004-1 Church Point Breakdown | Bluebird B-2025-A

BS 14003-1 Darbone's Creole Stomp | Bluebird B-2025-B

Find:

Cajun Country, Vol. 2, More Hits from the Swamp (JSP, 2005)

Cajun Capers: Cajun Music 1928-1954 (Proper, 2005)