Greetings From Texas! Part 2 (Still Hot)

There’s a place in Austin, it’s called Barton Springs.  Even on these blistering hot days (temps in the 100s) the damn water is ice cold.  You leap into this pool at your own risk because you’re going from air that’s around 105 degrees into water that’s about 68 degrees.  It may not seem so bad to you folks up in the snow belt but try it some time.  I know for sure that my heart can’t take it – not like it could when I was younger.  Instead, my heart is definitely open to this Lone Star flavored refreshment:

MP3: “Cosmic Cowboy” by Michael Martin Murphey

MP3: “Houston Chicks” by Doug Sahm

MP3: “Gettin’ By” (live) by Jerry Jeff Walker

MP3: “Love At The Five and Dime” by Nanci Griffith & Darius Rucker

MP3: “Austin City Limits ad/Rusty Weir” (KILT-FM, 1977)

MP3: “Playboy Theme” by Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys

MP3: “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender

MP3: “Rosemary” by C.J. Chenier

MP3: “Pancho and Lefty” (live) by Townes Van Zandt

MP3: “Working At Working” by Wayne Hancock

MP3: “The Legend” by Willie Nelson

MP3: “Dublin Blues” (live) by Guy Clark

MP3: “To Live Is To Fly” by Steve Earle

MP3: “The Road Goes On Forever” by Robert Earl Keen

Walkin’ To New Orleans: Clifton Chenier

We’re taking a trip from Texas to New Orleans and plan to get there in time for Mardi Gras.  Along the way, we’re revisiting some of the interesting characters we’ve met in past years.  Today we go deep into the dark heart of Cajun country.

They called Clifton Chenier “King of the Bayou.”  Even after his death in 1987, Chenier remains an undisputed giant of Louisiana music – he singlehandedly attracted millions of listeners to the rhythmic gumbo of blues and Cajun music called Zydeco.  Hell, he may not have invented the music but he came pretty close to setting an unreachable standard for anyone who follows in his footsteps.

We saw him a lot toward the end of his life.  Chenier loved to play close to his home in Lafayette, Louisiana, because as he approached his 60s Chenier battled diabetes.  I remember calling his home in 1984 for an interview and Chenier was under the supervision of a nurse.  One of his legs had to be amputated below the knee due to poor circulation, but he was grateful the doctors didn’t take his hands.

30 Days Out (From Christmas): Louisiana

Day 20 – Our Christmas journey today brings us to the great state of Louisiana – or more precisely, New Orleans.  The Crescent City is home to some of the greatest American musicians of past and modern eras, and being the nice Catholic boys and girls most of ’em are, they really know how to put on a good party at Christmas.  We also veer slightly into Cajun country for a couple of our selections but it’s all Louisiana, it’s all good.  Lassez les bon temps roulet.

MP3: “Christmas In New Orleans” by Louis Armstrong

MP3: “The Day It Snows On Christmas” by Allen Toussaint

MP3: “Christmas Gumbo” by Art Neville

MP3: “Zydeco Christmas” by C. J. Chenier

MP3: “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Joe Bonsall

MP3: “Christmas Fais Do Do” by Marcia Ball

MP3: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” by Al Hirt

MP3: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Pete Fountain

MP3: “Peace Brother Peace” by Dr. John

MP3: “Let It Snow” by the Dixie Cups

MP3: “The Christmas Blues” by the Dukes of Dixieland w/Topsy Chapman & Lars Edegran

MP3: “Santa Don’t Let Me Down” by Earl King

MP3: “All I Want For Christmas (Is A Little Bit Of Music) by Huey Piano Smith & the Clowns

MP3: “Frosty The Snowman” by Fats Domino

MP3: “Such A Night” by Aaron Neville