Traveling music series kicks off at the Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Elvis Presley. Hank Williams. Johnny Cash.
Before their names became infamous and their music timeless, they were just three young men hoping to have their music heard.
They, like many others, found that outlet in Shreveport’s Louisiana Hayride radio program. Sixty-five years later, they are remembered as the musicians and radio program that launched a remarkable, historic journey for music and the state.
Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and the Oxford American magazine are launching the Louisiana Soundtrack Experience series five-city tour Feb. 23 at the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium.
“From Elvis to Hank to Johnny: Celebrating 65 years of the Louisiana Hayride” will encompass a panel discussion, film screening and concert.
The 2 p.m. panel discussion of Louisiana music will be led by local music experts and moderated by The Oxford American music issue guest editor Alex Rawls. At 4 p.m., there will be a screening of “Sunshine by the Stars,” a made-for-TV film highlighting Louisiana music hosted by Harry Connick Jr. and produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
At 7 p.m., Shreveport-based band Dirtfoot will kick off the show followed by the legendary Louisiana Hayride Band featuring Maggie Warwick and other North Louisiana musicians.
Oxford American dedicated the 14th annual Southern music issue to saluting the music of Louisiana. The special edition covers the past and modern-day artists from various genres who have contributed to making Louisiana music significant. The magazine is accompanied by a 21-song CD compilation of Louisianan musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Margaret Lewis, Professor Longhair, the Rev. Utah Smith and more.
Alex Rawls has worked in music journalism since the 1980s and has specialized in Louisiana music since 1997. He said his goal for the music issue was to acknowledge some of the important people in Louisiana’s musical history, known and lesser-known.
“When people mention Louisiana music, they mention the Neville Brothers; they know Louisiana Hayride,” he said. “These were pieces that needed to be referenced, but I felt like there was so much in Louisiana music. I wanted to see if we could do a compelling job without going to the names and the artists that are sort of the first call. I wanted to represent the depth of music in the state.”
The Louisiana Soundtrack Experience series tour highlights the style and local history of music of each of each the five cities visited.
Dirtfoot is one of the acts chosen to represent Shreveport. “We were very honored to be asked to perform,” said Dirtfoot banjoist and vocalist J Bratlie.
Dirtfoot’s performance that night also signifies the band’s personal journey in music. “Our first big local break was at the Municipal at a battle of the bands, and we won it,” Bratlie said. “It was our first time there and our first performance on the big stage. This is the spot where Elvis stood and Hank Williams and Johnny Cash stood, so we were very excited about that.
“For us, it’s kind of full circle. It’s where we started so it’s great to be back there.”
Twelve years ago, Bratlie and lead singer Matt Hazelton founded the band that has taken on a sound of its own. Dirtfoot credits their self-proclaimed genre of “gypsy punk country grumble jungle boogie” as being a mesh of the six band member’s individual musical backgrounds and styles.
“Our music is basically a result of living in this weird melting pot of music [in Shreveport],” Bratlie said.
“We have Texas swing, New Orleans influences and, of course, the blues and jazz. There is a real metal and rock music scene in Shreveport. All of that mixes together to create this weird, bizarre, unique sound that we have.”
The melding of sounds from the region has become signature for Shreveport. Music historian Chris Brown of Centenary College has specialized in Shreveport music for the past decade and has witnessed the development. “Because of Shreveport’s geographical location, it’s kind of a crossroad of east and west, north and south,” Brown said.
Rawls said, “The city leads a lot of cultural influence where it all comes together in one place. It’s significant, and it can’t be underestimated. I’m excited that we started in Shreveport.”
Brown sees the series as an entertainment and education outlet.
“I think it will provide the opportunity and forum for people who do know about [Shreveport’s music] to share some of the information and some of their music with others,” he said.
Dardenne and the Oxford American magazine extends the celebration of Louisiana music heritage throughout the year with the continuation of the Louisiana Soundtrack Experience series tour: “Raising Cane: A Musical Tour in Creole Country” on March 2 in Natchitoches; “Cajun Seasoning: Zydeco Rhythms in the Heart of Acadiana” on April 20 in Lafayette; “Great Balls of Fire: Delta Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll” on Aug. 3 in Ferriday; and “Marching In: Coming Home to the City Where Jazz Was Born” on Nov. 16 in New Orleans.
“One of the things we’re trying to do is tie the different cities with the state,” Rawls said. “We’re not going to any individual town and putting on a show that you can see any night.”
– Tiana Kennell
