Patricia A. Threatt, Editor
Jennifer Garner, Contributor
Last updated: August 10, 2006

The SWLA Musicians Encyclopedia is a compendium of narrative and descriptive essays about the people and places relating to music and musicians of SWLA. For the purposes of this encyclopedia, the definition of a “Southwest Louisiana Musician” remains a fluid and slippery endeavor. As a general rule, “Southwest Louisiana” means “Imperial Calcasieu,” the region now made up of Calcasieu, Cameron, Allen, Beauregard, and Jefferson Davis parishes. To be sure, a musician born within the boundaries of these parishes falls under the category of “Southwest Louisiana Musician.” However, after that criterion, the definition becomes less definite. Other musicians not fortunate enough to be born on Imperial Calcasieu soil, but who lived, worked, or performed extensively in this area are included. The Encyclopedia also includes bands, civic organizations, educators, and companies associated with Southwest Louisiana music.

The Encyclopedia is planned as a cumulative and ongoing research and writing project. Please contact the editor with submissions, errors, or broken links.
 

Sources used for the Encyclopedia:

Abney, Lisa. Louisiana Folklife: The Louisiana State Fiddler's Championship. Vol. 26-27 (2002-2003).

Broven, John. South to Louisiana: the music of the Cajun bayous. Publisher: Pelican Pub. Co., 1983.

Bush, John/All Music Guide, LLC. Jimmy C. Newman. (2001). Retrieved June 12, 2006, from http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=356496&TMPL=LONG#bio

Hardison, Greg, ed. Louisiana Music Archive & Artist Directory. Available: http://www.satchmo.com.

Harris, Craig/All Music Guide, LLC. Shelton Dunaway. (2006). Retrieved June 12, 2006, from http://www.answers.com/topic/shelton-dunaway

Kershaw, Sammy. Sammy Kershaw Biography. (2006). Retrieved June 12, 2006, from http://www.sammykershaw.com/bio.html

Lake Charles American Press.

Louisiana Folklife Center. Terry Clement. Retrieved June 12, 2006, from http://www.nsula.edu/folklife/database/biography/clementT.html

Pamphlet Files, Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University.

Sandmel, Ben. Zydeco! Publisher: University Press of Mississippi, c1999.

Southern Folklife Collection/Goldband Records. Boozoo Chavis. (2001). Retrieved June 12, 2006, from http://docsouth.unc.edu/sfc/goldband/artists/boozoo_chavis/ 

Southern Folklife Collection/Goldband Records. Cookie and the Cupcakes. (2001). Retrieved June 12, 2006, from      http://docsouth.unc.edu/sfc/goldband/artists/cookie_and_the_cupcakes/

Tisserand, Michael. The Kingdom of Zydeco. Publisher: Arcade Publications, c1998.

Toups, Wayne. Wayne Toups and Zydecajun. Retrieved June 12, 2006, from http://www.waynetoups.com/bio.asp

Yule, Ronald, comp. and ed. with Tim Savoy, Georgia Yule, and Della Mott. Cajun French Music Association Hall of Fame Lake Charles Chapter. Publisher: Fiddle Country Publishing, 2003?.

Yule, Ronald. Phil Menard and the Louisiana Travelers: A life in Cajun music. [Self published, 2005].

Yule, Ronald and Georgia. Southwest Louisiana Fiddle and Bluegrass Club Newsletters 1974-1976. [Self published].

Library Home Page | Archives Home Page | SWLA Musicians Encyclopedia Index