Rod Bernard Swamp Rock & Roller (CD)

Rod Bernard

ROD BERNARD knew he wanted to be an entertainer as soon as he was old enough to hold a guitar and learned to play it. Born Aug. 12, 1940 in Opelousas, Louisiana, his dreams started to take shape at age 10. when he started appearing on KSLO radio with the Blue Roorn Gang singing country and western songs. Then as the influence of popular rhythm and blues, Black Creole and Cajun music combined in a musical gumbo, then called sirnply "South Louisiana Music", Rod joined with Mike Genevese to form their band, The Twisters. They performed what is now known as Swamp-Pop music, a term named in the early 70's by the British fans of this South Louisiana musical mixture. Rod Bernard and The Twisters, as the band became known, appeared weekly at area popular night spots like the Southern Club, Moonlight Inn, Green Lantern, and the Jungle Lounge. I started producing Cajun recordings in 1957 for my SWALLOW label, then formed JIN Records and released my first "Swamp-Pop" single with the original Boogie Kings group, That, when Rod Bernard contacted rne about recording a record with his group. They had previously recorded and released two singles on their own with limited success. Rod told rne that he had obtained a song that he was excited about recording...he had a feeling the song would be his first hit. And he was right! The song, "This Should Go On Forever... became an instant regional hit and I leased it to the Chess Record Company f Chicago (the record appeared on their Argo label) with three stipulations: 1. We would receive a thousand dollars advance royalry, 2. They would get the record played on WLAC, Nashville radio, the most listened nightly music show in the South at that time; and 3. That Rod would appear on Dick Clark's Arnerican Bandstand TV show to sing his hit. They agreed. and Rod's career was on its way and JIN Records had it's first big international hit record. He came back from touring in 1959 to be best man at my wedding. Rod's success also rneant, unfortunately that 1 would not be releasing his next records. After "This Should Go On Forever", my friend, legendary music producer. publisher, and promoter Bill Hall, took over the reigns to Rod's career and moved him to
Mercury Records, and later Bill and another music legend, Jack Clernents, would form a recording studio in Beaumont, Texas, and there produce a string of Rod Bernard hits for their Hall and Hallway Record labels Imo. of which are included in this album). Rod continued to enjoy success with his music career. Then in 1975 after several years and other producers and record labels, Rod returned to JIN Records and produced two classic and very successful albums with-in a year: JIN 9008, "Rod Bernard Country Levin— and JIN 9014, "Boogie N' Black and White" with Clifton Chenier. He later recorded two more great albums for JIN label, "Night Lights 8, Love Songs" WIN 9010) and "A Lot f Dominos" WIN 4010). For over 27 years now, Rod has been an advertising salesman and N personality of KLFY-TV, Lafayette, Louisiana. During all this time, he never fully retired from singing and performing his Swamp-Pop hits, and continues to appear at occasional festivals and special concerts. I've included in this album, the essential collection of Rod's greatest recordings over the years, and the songs his fans ask for most. (Floyd Soileau, JIN Records)