Prudhomme Recognized For Zydeco, Creole Heritage
Willis Prudhomme To Receive Creole Heritage
Award on Sunday, June 9, 2013
June 5, 2013
by Herman Fusilier
The Daily Advertiser
People often tell Willis Prudhomme, 81, that he looks 25 years younger than his actual age. The legendary zydeco musician attributes his enduring youth to a life without smoking or drinking and farm work for more than 70 years.
But 25 years ago, Prudhomme suffered a heart attack, which brought him to his knees on the bandstand in Port Arthur, Texas. Prudhomme underwent open heart surgery and days later, went into cardiac arrest while recovering in the hospital.
Creole Culture Day
Sunday, June 9, 2013
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette, Louisiana
Admission: Free
Information: (337) 233-4077, bayouvermiliondistrict.org
Ironically, Prudhomme remembers when his heart stopped beating as a pleasant event.
“That’s the best feeling you ever want to have,” said Prudhomme. “You just go into La La Land. It’s just like you’re sleeping. When you come back, you say, ‘What happened?’ It’s a funny feeling.
“The hospital room was painted beige. For a split second, everything looked like flowers, like wallpaper. It was pretty, but that’s the last I remember of it.
Prudhomme is recognized for Creole heritage that has been a guiding force throughout his life. One of 12 children born into a sharecropping family in Kinder, Prudhomme worked on a farm throughout his life. He learned to play music by blowing on a harmonica as he rode all day on a tractor.
“I got out of there and started playing music again. I never had no more problems.”
Prudhomme will get his flowers at 11 a.m. Sunday when he receives the Richard J. Catalon Creole Heritage Award during Creole Culture Day at Vermilionville. Admission is free.
Creole Culture Day includes a host of activities, including storytelling, arts and crafts displays, cooking demonstrations, dance lessons, sharing circles, kids games and more. Gerard Delafose and the Zydeco Gators perform at noon, followed by Corey and the Hot Peppers at 3 p.m.
Prudhomme is recognized for Creole heritage that has been a guiding force throughout his life. One of 12 children born into a sharecropping family in Kinder, Prudhomme worked on a farm throughout his life. He learned to play music by blowing on a harmonica as he rode all day on a tractor.
Prudhomme was influenced by Cajun music legends Iry LeJeune and Nathan Abshire. Prudhomme spent time with Abshire, who encouraged him to keep playing.
But Prudhomme didn’t hit the bandstand until he was in his 30s and joined Leo Thomas’ band. He started his own group, Zydeco Express, and became a popular draw throughout the region.
n the 1980s and ’90s, Prudhomme scored hits like “My Woman is a Salty Dog,” “Trying to Love Two,” “Enola’s Stepping Out Tonight” and “Cornbread.” He was featured on Rounder Records’ landmark double albums of 1989, “Zydeco Live!,” recorded at Richard’s Club in Lawtell.
He performed in the 1992 movie “Passion Fish,” featuring Oscar-nominated actress Mary McDonnel and Alfre Woodard. He later toured throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.
A traditional player, Prudhomme is not a huge fan of today’s rap-flavored zydeco. Ironically, he indirectly helped popularize the modern sound. In the early ’90s, Beau Jocque took Prudhomme’s “Cornbread” song, added elements of rock and rap and set zydeco in a whole new direction.
Prudhomme said the song started as a nursery rhyme he would sing around the house.
“Mom would make big old cornbread, and I ate so much in my life, I made a song about it,” said Prudhomme. “It was a hot little number when it came out.
“When I tell people I wrote ‘Cornbread,’ their eyes go blank. They thought Beau Jocque had done it. Beau Jocque asked me if he could do it. He did it high tempo. He did a good job at it.”
Prudhomme rarely plays in public today, as his reflexes have slowed. But Prudhomme remains in good spirits and health.
“I tried smoking, and it made me sick. I tried chewing, and it made me sick, same with drinking. I just didn’t have the stomach for it. I thank God I didn’t. I see guys much younger than me. Some guys I coached in baseball. They’re all gray-headed from drinking and smoking. It brings you down.
“I’m not going to say I didn’t chase women,” added Prudhomme. That’s just being a man.”
Herman Fuselier is food and culture editor for The Times of Acadiana and Daily Advertiser. Contact him at hfuselier@theadvertiser.com.
Willis Prudhomme To Receive Creole Heritage
Award on Sunday, June 9, 2013
June 5, 2013
by Herman Fusilier
The Daily Advertiser
 |
Willis Prudhomme will receive the Richard J. Catalon Creole Heritage Award Sunday at Vermilionville. photo credit: David Simpson
|
But 25 years ago, Prudhomme suffered a heart attack, which brought him to his knees on the bandstand in Port Arthur, Texas. Prudhomme underwent open heart surgery and days later, went into cardiac arrest while recovering in the hospital.
Creole Culture Day
Sunday, June 9, 2013
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette, Louisiana
Admission: Free
Information: (337) 233-4077, bayouvermiliondistrict.org
Ironically, Prudhomme remembers when his heart stopped beating as a pleasant event.
“That’s the best feeling you ever want to have,” said Prudhomme. “You just go into La La Land. It’s just like you’re sleeping. When you come back, you say, ‘What happened?’ It’s a funny feeling.
“The hospital room was painted beige. For a split second, everything looked like flowers, like wallpaper. It was pretty, but that’s the last I remember of it.
Prudhomme is recognized for Creole heritage that has been a guiding force throughout his life. One of 12 children born into a sharecropping family in Kinder, Prudhomme worked on a farm throughout his life. He learned to play music by blowing on a harmonica as he rode all day on a tractor.
“I got out of there and started playing music again. I never had no more problems.”
Prudhomme will get his flowers at 11 a.m. Sunday when he receives the Richard J. Catalon Creole Heritage Award during Creole Culture Day at Vermilionville. Admission is free.
Creole Culture Day includes a host of activities, including storytelling, arts and crafts displays, cooking demonstrations, dance lessons, sharing circles, kids games and more. Gerard Delafose and the Zydeco Gators perform at noon, followed by Corey and the Hot Peppers at 3 p.m.
Prudhomme is recognized for Creole heritage that has been a guiding force throughout his life. One of 12 children born into a sharecropping family in Kinder, Prudhomme worked on a farm throughout his life. He learned to play music by blowing on a harmonica as he rode all day on a tractor.
Prudhomme was influenced by Cajun music legends Iry LeJeune and Nathan Abshire. Prudhomme spent time with Abshire, who encouraged him to keep playing.
But Prudhomme didn’t hit the bandstand until he was in his 30s and joined Leo Thomas’ band. He started his own group, Zydeco Express, and became a popular draw throughout the region.
n the 1980s and ’90s, Prudhomme scored hits like “My Woman is a Salty Dog,” “Trying to Love Two,” “Enola’s Stepping Out Tonight” and “Cornbread.” He was featured on Rounder Records’ landmark double albums of 1989, “Zydeco Live!,” recorded at Richard’s Club in Lawtell.
He performed in the 1992 movie “Passion Fish,” featuring Oscar-nominated actress Mary McDonnel and Alfre Woodard. He later toured throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.
A traditional player, Prudhomme is not a huge fan of today’s rap-flavored zydeco. Ironically, he indirectly helped popularize the modern sound. In the early ’90s, Beau Jocque took Prudhomme’s “Cornbread” song, added elements of rock and rap and set zydeco in a whole new direction.
Prudhomme said the song started as a nursery rhyme he would sing around the house.
“Mom would make big old cornbread, and I ate so much in my life, I made a song about it,” said Prudhomme. “It was a hot little number when it came out.
“When I tell people I wrote ‘Cornbread,’ their eyes go blank. They thought Beau Jocque had done it. Beau Jocque asked me if he could do it. He did it high tempo. He did a good job at it.”
Prudhomme rarely plays in public today, as his reflexes have slowed. But Prudhomme remains in good spirits and health.
“I tried smoking, and it made me sick. I tried chewing, and it made me sick, same with drinking. I just didn’t have the stomach for it. I thank God I didn’t. I see guys much younger than me. Some guys I coached in baseball. They’re all gray-headed from drinking and smoking. It brings you down.
“I’m not going to say I didn’t chase women,” added Prudhomme. That’s just being a man.”
Herman Fuselier is food and culture editor for The Times of Acadiana and Daily Advertiser. Contact him at hfuselier@theadvertiser.com.
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