Mr D.L. Ménard. Un musicien extraordinaire

This post might not be that interesting to people out there who do not like or even know about Cajun music from Southern Louisiana. However one of the highlights of my trip in 2014 was seeing DL Menard play at set at the Breaux Bridge Festival. This particular festival celebrates the rich culture of the French speaking Arcadian community, the music dancing and of course the cuisine. I had been listening to DL Menards music for over forty years and I never thought I would see him play live. He gave a great set for someone over eighty years old

There is an other image at the top of the comments of his band that afternoon also two links to youtube ( if one does not work the other should ) of his playing his most famous song La Porte En Arriver

youtu.be/yDlZMfDTNzQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDlZMfDTNzQ&feature=youtu.be

A bit of biography
"D. L." Menard (born April 14, 1932) is one of the most important songwriters, performers, and recording artists in contemporary Cajun music. Due to his country-tinged singing style, he has been called the "Cajun Hank Williams." Menard was born in Erath, Louisiana, the only child of Ophy and Helena Primeaux Menard. He was part of a Cajun farming family. He took up the guitar at 16 and started playing dances in Louisiana clubs at 17. He is strongly influenced by the late Hank Williams, who he met in 1951 at the Teche Club shortly before Williams's death. Since then Menard has performed in more than 30 countries and served as a good-will ambassador for Cajun culture. He has also recorded with non-Cajun artists, including Bryan Ferry.
Menard and his late wife Louella had seven children, leading to 17 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He still lives in Erath and continues to play, perform and record. He has maintained a separate career as a craftsman, noted for his handmade ash-wood chairs.
Menard is best known for the song "La Porte En Arrière" ("The Back Door"), which he both composed and regularly performs. Cajun folklorist Barry Jean Ancelet has called this the most played and recorded Cajun song ever, selling over 500,000 copies in 1962 alone. It has been covered by dozens of Cajun and zydeco bands and by other Francophone artists such as Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Menard has said he modeled it on Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues." He says that he composed it in less than an hour, while working at a gas station in Erath.

In 1993, his album Le Trio Cadien was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best traditional folk album category. In 1994, he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2009, he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame along with Jo-El Sonnier, Doug Kershaw, and Jimmy C. Newman. In 2010, his album "Happy Go Lucky" was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Zydeco or Cajun music album category.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE A COMMENT IT’S MUCH APPRECIATED.

IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW MY STREAM I SUGGEST YOU OUGHT TO READ MY PROFILE FIRST

Taken in: United States / Louisiana / Breaux Bridge (show map)

Taken on: May 3, 2014

Tags:

Music

D L Menard

cajun

Arcadian

Breaux Bridge

Louisiana

gig

concert

United States « less

Sets appears in: • Deep South Trip 2014 • people more » • Music Makers « less

Groups appears in: • Black and White Photography (POST 1, COMMENT 3) • BLACK & WHITE - P1&A2 (NO SEPIA) more » • Black & White Passion (P1/A3) • VIVID & STRIKING - P1/A3 - Sweeper Active • Black & White Done Right !. « less

Camera: Nikon D7000, f/8.0, 1/125 sec, 150mm (=225mm), ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7000
Lens:	18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	150mm (35mm equivalent: 225mm)
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.3 (Macintosh)
Show full info

Stats: 4,354 views / 52 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: