House Rocker Records Relocates To A New Location

House Rocker Records Relocates To A New Location

Zydeco, Southern Soul, and Blues Nation's Oldest
African American Music Store Relocates and
merges with E & S Music Store!

April 12, 2015

by Rod Sias
www.ZydecoOnline.com
Uniting the Zydeco Nation

House Rocker Records will be relocating and merging with E & S Music Store on April 25, 2015
at 214 E. Willow Street in Lafayette, Louisiana.

House Rocker Records, the Zydeco, Southern Soul, and Blues Nation's oldest and only African American Music store in Lafayette, Louisiana will be relocating from its current location in the Northgate Mall to its new location at 214 E. Willow Street in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Founded by the legendary and pioneering deejay Paul Thibeaux (the House Rocker) in 1968, House Rocker Records gave a voice to black music in general and black Creole Music in particular in the Southwest Louisiana region and became a grounding staple and launching pad for the careers of Zydeco, Southern Soul, Blues, and R & B musicians.

Paul Thibeaux (The House Rocker) was dee jay for KVOL radio who broke the unseen on-air color line in Acadiana, changed the radio landscape in Southwest Louisiana and founded House Rocker Records.

Paul Thibeaux join the staff at KVOL radio in 1965. Although the Motown sound ruled the radio airways at the time, African American radio personalities were a rarity and unheard of in the Acadiana area.  "Up until that time, there were no black radio personalities in the area.  It was always white disc jockeys calling themselves hip names." said Rod Bernard, Opelousas native and legendary Swamp Pop pioneer and singer.  Rod Bernard worked as a disc jockey and program and music director for KVOL at the time.  Rod Bernard introduced the idea of hiring Paul Thibeaux to then station manager Evan Hughes.

Paul Thibeaux, who dubbed himself "the House Rocker" played primarily, soul, blues, and zydeco, broke the unseen on-air color line in Acadiana, and changed the radio landscape in Southwest Louisiana.  Paul Thibeaux,  expanded KVOL's listenership by appealing to a younger more diverse audience. For years, the House Rocker, Paul Thibeaux provided the African American community in Acadiana with its only on-air radio forum until KJCB, Lafayette's first black-owned radio station came on the air on December 14, 1981.  

Paul Thibeaux was instrumental in giving underexposed local musicians much needed exposure by playing their music on the radio.  Paul Thibeaux was allowed to pick music to play on his shows.  "He had his own format.  Paul was always playing what the people asked him to play.  That's why a lot of people listened to Paul.  A lot of recording artist around here owe a lot to Paul.  He played their records where other people couldn't." said Rodney Bernard.

The original House Rocker Records was located on
502  W. Simcoe Street  in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Paul Thibeaux expanded his musical influence by opening House Rocker Records, the only black music store in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1968 at 502 W. Simcoe Street in Lafayette, Louisiana.  House Rocker records became a staple in local, regional, and national African American music culture keeping pace with a large stock of Soul, Blues, R&B, Southern Soul and Zydeco Music and building a loyal and growing customer base largely through word of mouth.

The original House Rocker Records was located on
502  W. Simcoe Street  in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The House Rocker, Paul Thibeaux's illustrious and influential career came to an untimely and unexpected end when he died at the age of 47 as a result of a massive heart attack in 1983.  His sister, Irene Thibeaux took over the management of House Rocker Records and kept the legacy alive.   

House Rocker Records will be relocating and merging with E & S Music Store 

on 

April 25, 2015 

at 

214 E. Willow Street 

in Lafayette, Louisiana.

1:57 AM