Al Ferrier

Alfous Glenn "Al" Ferrier , Sr. (born August 19, 1934 in Olla, Louisiana ; † January 6, 2015 in Natchitoches , Louisiana) was an American country , cajun and rockabilly musician. His nickname is "The Cajun Rockabilly" because his music is a mixture of country, Cajun music , a rockabilly influenced by Carl Perkins and Swamp Blues .

Life

Childhood and youth

In his childhood, Al Ferrier became interested in Grandpa Jones , who was then a member of the Grand Ole Opry . He started playing guitar at the age of eleven, accompanying Brother Warren, who played the fiddle . Ferrier's parents were also very musical, with his father playing the fiddle and his mother playing the guitar. With his father and mother he attended the local Barn Dances, where he also performed. When he was 13, he left school with no qualifications to work in a sawmill.

Career

With his brothers Warren and Brian, he started his day at five in the morning to appear on local radio in Alexandria , after which they went to the sawmill and worked there until evening. He left Louisiana for 18 months and lived in Gaston , Alabama , but returned to his home state. In Gaston he appeared for the first time on a national radio show, in the WGWD Midway Jamboree . During a power outage at the sawmill, Ferrier went home and wrote his first song, Let's Go Boppin 'Tonight . Ferrier played shortly after the record label owner Eddie Shuler, who signed him.

Seventy-Six Dollars a Week , 19 ??

Ferrier founded the band The Boppin 'Hillbillies with his two brothers . Their first session took place in the spring of 1955, when the song No No Baby was recorded. This was released as the first single in April 1956. At the same time, Ferrier and his band completed a series of appearances in the widely audible KWKH Louisiana Hayride , where Ferrier met the young Elvis Presley . Presley heard Ferrier's song Let's Go Boppin 'Tonight and wanted to send it to his producer Sam Phillips ; However, Ferrier refused to agree. He regretted this later and said: "That's one big mistake I made by not leting Elvis recording it."

In the following years Ferrier played records for various labels, including Rocko, Zynn and Nashboro Records.

In 1980 Ferrier received an award from the Mayor of Natchitoches City for 25 years in the music business. After his brother Bryan died, the Boppin 'Hillbillies broke up. However, Ferrier formed a new band and continued his career. He performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and played new albums. In 1996 Ferrier switched to gospel and released the album Help Me Keep the Faith .

Discography

Singles

year	title	Record company
1956	No No Baby / I'll Never Do Any Wrong	Goldband Records
1956	My Baby Done Gone Away / It's Too Late Now	Goldband Records
1957	I'm the man / hey baby	Excello Records
1958	Let's Go Boppin 'Tonight / What Is That Thing Called Love?	Goldband Records
1959	Kiss Me Baby / I Thought I Found Love	Rocko Records
1959	Chisholm Trail Rock / Gunsmoke	Zynn Records
1960	Blues Stop Knocking / She Left Me	Zynn Records
196?	Honey Baby / Why Doubt My Love?	Goldband Records
196?	I'll Try One More Time / I'm Just A Mender	Goldband Records
1964	78 To Birmingham / I'll Sin Until I Die	Goldband Records
1964	Last Chance / Take Two Steps	Goldband Records
196?	Told Her Nobody / Touch Of Mary's Hand	Goldband Records
196?	Yard Dog / If I Need You	Goldband Records
19 ??	76 Dollars A Week / Hungry Eyes	Goldband Records
19 ??	Rockabilly Blues / Sad Songs Help Me Through The Night	Goldband Records
1972	163 St. Peter's Call / All You Need Is A Man	RPI Records
1974	I'm Not Drinking More / Don't Play Blue Eyes	Master Track Records
1975	Kiss Me Baby / I Thought I Found Love	Rocko Records
1975	I'll Take You For A Ride / It's My Fault	Showtime Records
1975	Be-Boppin 'Daddy / You're Humburggin' Me	Showtime Records
1976	Lonesome Trucker / Watching The Might Lights Burn	Showtime Records
1976	Hey baby / honey	Showtime Records
1976	Hey baby / I'm the man	Excello Records
1981	Hello Josephine / I'll Try One More Time	Goldband Records
1981	Every Dog Has a Day / No Greater Love	Goldband Records
	Blues Stop Knocking At My Door Indian rock and roll Send her back You win again	not published
	Love me baby I'm still loving you	not published

Albums

• 1970: The Birth Of Rockabilly
• 1976: From 1955 To 1975
• 1977: Boppin 'Tonight
• 1981: Al Ferrier
• 1984: Bop Stop Rock In The Hole In The Wall
• 1987: Dixie
• 1993: Al Ferrier and his Boppin 'Hillbillies
• 1996: Legendary Al Ferrier with Louisiana Swamp Cats
• 1996: Help Me Keep The Faith
• 2000: Al Ferrier & Louisiana Swamp Cats

Web links

• Entry into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
• Discography with audio samples

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Classic Rockabilly - Al Ferrier; P. 50 f.