"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952. Named for a Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, it spawned numerous cover versions and has since achieved popularity in several different music genres.
But the melody was borrowed from a traditional Cajun melody.
The first recording of this melody as a Cajun tune was by the Guidry Brothers called "Le Garcon Negligent" in 1929.
(o) Guidry Brothers (1929) (as "Le Garcon Negligent")
Recorded October 1, 1929 in New Orleans, LA
Released on Vocalion 15849
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Here below a list of songs using the same melody but different lyrics
(c) Breaux Brothers (1935) (as "La Valse Du Bayou Plaquemine")
Breaux Frères (Clifford Breaux, guitar, Ophy Breaux, fiddle, Amedee Breaux, accordion).
Recorded Oct. 9, 1934, San Antonio, Tex.
Released on Vocalion 03052
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(c) Cleoma Breaux (1936) (as "Pin Solitaire")
Cleoma Breaux Falcon: Guitar Vocals - Joe Falcon: Accordion - Moise Morgan: Fiddle .
Recorded in New Orleans on March 12, 1936.
Released on Decca 17024
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(c) Miller's Merrymakers (1936) ( as "Lake Arthur Waltz")
Beethoven Miller: guitar / J. B. Fuselier vocals and fiddle
Recorded October 17, 1936 in New Orleans.
Released on Bluebird B-2004
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On the same day Miller's Merrymakers also recorded the same tune with a different title:
(c) Miller's Merrymakers (1936) (as "Pine Island")
Beethoven Miller: guitar / J. B. Fuselier vocals and fiddle
Recorded October 17, 1936 in New Orleans.
Released on Bluebird B-2006
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(c) Jolly Boys of Lafayette (1937) (as "Abbeville")
Leon "Crip" Credeur: fiddle, vocals / Joseph Fabacher: accordion / Francis "Red" Fabacher: guitar.
Recorded February 21, 1937 in Dallas, TX.
Released on Decca 17026
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(c) Louisiana Rounders (1937) (as "Alons Kooche Kooche")
Joe Werner [vcl/ gt], Julius ‘Papa Cairo’ Lamperez [vcl/gt], Wayne Perry [fiddle].
Recorded December 15, 1937. Adolphus Hotel, Dallas, TX.
Released on Decca #17040
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Julius Angelle "Papa Cairo" Lamperez was a member of the Louisiana Rounders when they cut "Alons Kooche Kooche",
Not long before 1947, Murphy "Chuck" Guillory had decided to add Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez to his lineup of musicians. By 1948, he had Chuck's band perform the melody and gave it the title "Big Texas" (sometimes listed as "Gran' Texas").
Papa Cairo took the melody of "Le Garcon Negligent" / "Gran Prairie" and wrote a new set of lyrics.
"Big Texas" or "Grand Texas" is a song about a lost love, a woman who left the singer to go with another man to "Big Texas"
(c) Chuck Guillory & His Rythmn Boys (1948) (as "Big Texas" (or "Gran Texas")
Jimmy Newman [rh gt], Papa Cairo [vcl/steel], poss. Pete Duhon or Howard Thibodeuax [bass], Curzey Roy [drums], Chuck Guillory [fiddle], Herman Durbin [piano]
Recorded 1948 New Orleans, LA
Released on Modern 612
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In 1949 Papa Cairo decided to record the song in English with his own group and entitled it "Big Texas No. 2", released on Modern's subsidiary label called Colonial.
(c) Papa Cairo and his Boys (as "Big Texas No. 2").
Don Lane on xylophone, Murphy Smith on fiddle, Herman Durbin on piano, Albert Roy on guitar, possibly Pete Duhon on bass and Curly Mertz on percussion.
Recorded in 1949.
Released on Colonial Records (#104)
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Papa Cairo followed it up with his original, pre-war French version simply called "Kooche Kooche".
(c) Papa Cairo and his Boys (as "Kooche Kooche").
Don Lane on xylophone, Murphy Smith on fiddle, Herman Durbin on piano, Albert Roy on guitar, possibly Pete Duhon on bass and Curly Mertz on percussion.
Recorded in 1949.
Released on Colonial Records (#105)
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Or to a sample here:
In 1951 Papa Cairo went to J.D. Miller's studio in Crowley and re-recorded the song twice, once in English and once in French for Feature Records
78 RPM - Papa Cairo And His Boys - Big Texas (English) / Big Texas (French) - Feature - USA - F-1049
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(c) Happy Fats & His Rayne-Bo Ramblers (1940) (as "Gran Prairie")
Happy Fats and His Rayne-Bo Ramblers (Sandy Lormand [gt], Pee Wee Broussard [banjo], Ray Clark [steel], Leroy Leblanc [bass], Harry Choates [gt/fiddle], Harold Broussard [piano])
Recorded February 14, 1940 in Dallas, TX –
Released on Bluebird B-2081
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And then the most successful version of the tune was recorded by Hank Williams: "Jambalaya",
While maintaining a Cajun theme, "Jambalaya" is about life, parties and stereotypical food of Cajun cuisine. The narrator leaves to pole a pirogue down the shallow water of the bayou, to attend a party with his girlfriend Yvonne and her family. At the feast they have Cajun cuisine, notably Jambalaya, crawfish pie and filé gumbo, and drink liquor from fruit jars. Yvonne is his "ma cher amio", which is Cajun French for "my good friend" or more likely to mean "my girlfriend."
(c) Hank Williams (1952) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
Williams recorded the song on June 13, 1952, his first recording session in six months, at Castle Studio in Nashville with backing provided by Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Chet Atkins (lead guitar), Chuck Wright (bass) and probably Ernie Newton (bass).
It was released in July 1952 on MGM 11283
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(c) Moon Mullican (1952) (as "Jambalaya")
[sometimes credited for being the one who learned (or even sold) the song to Hank Williams]
Moon Mullican [vcl/piano], Ivy Jimmy Bryant [ld gt], William E. Billy Strange [rh gt], Speedy West [steel], ? [bass], poss. Roy Harte [drums], ? [fiddle], ? [fem chrs-1])
Recorded July 9, 1952 Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA –
Released on King 1106
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Jo Stafford had a no 3 US Hit with her version
(c) Jo Stafford (1952) (as "Jambalaya")
With Paul Weston and his Orchestra and the Norman Luboff Choir
Recorded July 20, 1952.
Released on Columbia 39838
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The song was Brenda Lee's first single in 1956.
(c) Little Brenda Lee (1956) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
Brenda Lee [vcl], Grady Martin [gt], Jack Shook [gt], Don Helms [steel], Bob Moore [bass], Farris Coursey [drums], Owen Bradley [piano]. Producer: Paul Cohen)
Recorded July 30, 1956 Music City Recordings, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN -
Released on Decca 30050
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Fats Domino had a # 30 US hit with his version.
(c) Fats Domino (1961) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
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(c) Tony Sheridan And The Beat Brothers (1964) (as "Jambalaya")
Tony Sheridan And The Beat Brothers - Jambalaya / Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Vinyl) at Discogs
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(c) Hank Williams Jr (1964) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
The son of Hank Williams recorded his version February 1964 in the Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN –
Produced by Jim Viennau
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In India, Usha Iyer (now Usha Uthup) recorded a version in 1968 on the HMV label, that became the best selling song until then, by an Indian artist in English.
(c) Usha with Hecke Kingdom and his Jazz Quartet (1968) (as "Jambalaya Jambalaya")
Released on HMV 79858
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(c) Chuck Berry (1971) (as "Bordeaux in my Pirough")
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In 1974 Chuck Berry also recorded the Hank Williams version
(c) Chuck Berry (1974) (as "Jambalaya")
Finally released in 2010 on the next compilation
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(c) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1972) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
Hit in the US and Dutch Charts
Jeff Hanna [vcl/gt/drums/washboard], Jimmie Fadden [vcl/gt/harmonica/drums], Les Thompson [vcl/gt/mandolin/bass], John McEuen [vcl/gt/banjo/mandolin/fiddle/accordion], Jimmy Ibbotson [vcl/gt/drums/keyboards/accordion].
Recorded September 1971 The Aspen Studios, Aspen, CO -
Released on United Artists 50890
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(c) The Blue Ridge Rangers (1973) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
Hit in the Dutch Charts
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(c) Carpenters (1973) (as "Jambalaya (On The Bayou")
No. 3 Hit in the Dutch Charts
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(c) Emmylou Harris (1975) (as "Jambalaya")
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(c) Elvis Presley (1975) (as "Jambalaya")
Recorded May 4, 1975, at Civic Center, Lake Charles, Louisanna
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(c) Normaal (1980) (as "Jambalaya")
(Dutch lyrics by Bennie Jolink and Ferdi Jolij)
Listen here:
More versions here:
Latest news. The Guidry Brothers have been discovered. They will be featured in the Teche News soon.
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