Hackberry Ramblers
| Company type | Music ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Headquarters | Hackberry, Louisiana , United States |
| Products | Cajun music, Western swing, blues, rockabilly |
The Hackberry Ramblers, also referred to as the Riverside Ramblers, are a Cajun music ensemble originating from Hackberry, Louisiana and established in 1933. They earned a Grammy Award nomination and, following their prominence in the late 1930s, have grown to be one of the most influential and well-known Cajun bands.
Having sustained activity for more than seventy years, the group was led by its founding members, fiddler Luderin Darbone and accordionist Edwin Duhon, until Duhon's passing in 2006. While their foundation is in Cajun music, their catalog also includes American styles such as Western swing, blues, and rockabilly, frequently fusing these genres together.
Early years
The collaboration between fiddler Luderin Darbone and guitarist Edwin Duhon began in Hackberry in 1930. Originally playing accordion, Duhon transitioned to guitar due to difficulties with his instrument and the rising popularity of guitar-based Nashville country music. Their initial formation consisted of one fiddle and two guitars.
By 1933, they had gained a radio slot and secured a contract with RCA's Bluebird Records. The moniker "Hackberry Ramblers" was devised to be memorable for radio audiences—marking them as the first Cajun band to adopt a collective name rather than listing individual performers. Their broadcasts were transmitted from the Majestic Hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana on station KFBL. In 1936, they recorded significant songs including "Jolie Blonde" and "Oh Josephine, Ma Josephine". They were trailblazers in employing electronic amplification at dance venues by powering a public address system using the engine from Darbone's Model-A Ford.
Their extensive repertoire encompassed Cajun music, country, Western swing, jazz, and blues performed in both English and French. They interpreted works by artists like Bob Wills, Jimmie Rodgers, and Bessie Smith. Sponsored by Montgomery Ward, they also performed under the name "The Riverside Ramblers".
Guitarist and vocalist Joe Werner joined the ensemble in 1936, participating in the 1937 recording of "Wondering" before leaving the group the subsequent year.
Later years and legacy
Interest in the Ramblers revived during the 1960s when Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records began documenting their music. The band appeared at prominent events such as the FitzGerald's American Music Festival in 1997.
In 2002, both Darbone and Duhon were honored with the esteemed National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Prior to Duhon's death in 2006, the final roster included Darbone, Duhon, drummer Ben Sandmel, guitarist Glen Croker, and bassist Johnny Faulk.
The group's founding members' instruments have been preserved by the Country Music Hall of Fame as a tribute.
James "Glen" Croker
Glen Croker passed away at age 77 on August 23, 2011.
See also
Other sources
- Musician Edwin Duhon dead at 95 United Press International, Inc. Retrieved 20 Mar 2006.
- Sandmel, Ben. "Cajun At The Country Music Hall Of Fame". ZydE-Zine. Retrieved 14 August 2005.
- John Wirt, "‘Hackberry Ramblers’ Co-Founder Dead [Luderin Darbone] at 95," The Advocate [Baton Rouge, La.], 23 November 2008.
- Luderin Darbone 1913-2008 Arhoolie Records.