Joseph Pierre Landry was born July 9, 1877 in Bayou Goula, Iberville Parish. His father, Volney, was a veteran of the Civil War and his mother Harriet was a home maker. At the turn of the century, Joseph worked as a store salesman near White Castle and it was during this period of his life that Joseph spent time crafting his talent as a stage and voice actor.
After moving to Beaumont, he married Anna Eileen Cunningham, an Irish woman and native of Illinois, and the couple started a family. During the 1920s, he worked as a "commercial trucker" however, he began traveling to various towns between Texas and Louisiana, entertaining audiences with a number of "humorous stories and charming sketches that fairly brought down the house." Often these monologues were in conjunction with other musical acts that performed either before or after his stage shows.
Either possibly discovered on one of his many performances in Louisiana or possibly connected to the Wilferts of Opelousas, the Victor Recording Company invited the humorist in November of 1929 to record two of his most popular monologues, "Jack LaFiance At The Telephone" and "Jack LaFiance On De Crawfish".(#22212). While in New Orleans, other Cajun musicians that awaiting their turn in front of the microphone were Artelus Mistric, Columbus "Boy" Fruge and Moise Robin of Arnaudville, Alius Soileau & Leo Soileau of Ville Platte, Berthmost Montet & Joswell Dupuis of Henderson, Delin Guillory & Lewis Lafleur of Eunice, and Bixy Guidry & Percy Babineaux of Carencro. According to record collector/dealer Malcolm Vidrine,
"The A-side is even done completely in French. B-side is in English and Jack LaFiance makes a decent case on replacing the Louisiana Pelican with a Crawfish (and put him on the dollar as well!)."
LaFiance was a caricature figure, popularized in late 19th century New Orleans literature, and represented in literary newspaper columns by James J. McLaughlin, who told of fictional stories of creole courtship in New Orleans.
After the Great Depression, Landry's career stalled. Victor released his recordings in February of 1930, during the depths of the Depression, killing any chance of success Landry may have expected. His recording seems to have been mostly forgotten and the distribution of the monologue, only 804 copies, succumbed to the effects of the economic situation.
Outside of his day job in real estate sales, Joseph spent much of his time acting and impersonating in various talent shows and social events both in Beaumont and in Houston. He would often demonstrate "great versatility as an imitator of various dialects," performing for the Kiwanis Club and Knights of Columbus; an organization in which he had deep involvement.
He became president of a real estate company after WWII and lived the rest of his life in Beaumont. Joseph passed away April 24, 1957.
References
- The Houston Post Houston, Texas · Wednesday, December 24, 1919
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167722299/joseph-pierre-landry
- Discussions with Malcolm V
Jack Lafiance At The Telephone | Victor 22212
