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12
MY
ROUSES
EVERYDAY
MARCH | APRIL 2015
Contemporary Country — the softer,
saccharine-soaked step-child of Classic
Country — was born in the American
consciousness with the release of the movie
“Urban Cowboy” in the 1970s.
Urban Cowboy was the story of Gilley’s, the
legendary Country & Western roadhouse
in Pasadena, Texas, home of the first stable
of mechanical bulls and the first generation
of Yuppie rednecks.
The man behind this legendary operation, the
man who forever changed the direction and
exploded the popularity of country music, was
Mickey Gilley, from Ferriday, Louisiana.
Everything is related to Louisiana. And
every
one
is related here as well. Gilley is the
cousin of Rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis,
who is the cousin of Gospel pioneer Jimmy
Swaggart, whose legacy was pretty much
flushed away when he was caught cavorting
with hookers on the stretch of roadway
formerly known as Airline Highway.(Which
is actually Highway 61, the same Highway
61 where Robert Johnson’s doomed bargain
with the devil went down and the same
Highway 61 immortalized in song by folk
legend Bob Dylan.)
For the record, Highway 61 begins at the
corner of Tulane and Broad Streets in New
Orleans. Crazy, huh?
You know what’s crazier but then again
makes perfect sense in the context of this
conversation? The first opera house in
America was in …New Orleans.
Cajun and Zydeco music, the two most
popular and important indigenous
American genres, were born on the prairies
of Acadiana.
This is Louisiana, where we have not one,
not two, not three, but four state songs.Who
else has that ? One of those songs, “You Are
My Sunshine,” was powerful enough to get
a man elected Governor. Twice.
Jimmy Davis offered very little by way of
ideas on the campaign trail. He simply sang
that song.And that made more sense to voters
than anything any of his rivals ever said.
Never mind that it was written by a guy in
Georgia andmakes no reference to Louisiana
at all.That it would become the most famous
song about Louisiana without being about
Louisiana makes no less sense than all the
other musical influences, innovations and
importance created in the state.
The simple fact is: We called it first. So we
get to keep it. And if Georgia, or anybody
else wants it back, they’re gonna have to
come and take it.
The same goes for rock, blues, country and
all the rest. I’m not positive, but I think they
all came from New Orleans. Or something
like that. And that’s our story, and we’re
sticking with it.
Irma thomas’s
Mac & Cheese
Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New
Orleans, is one of many local greats who
recorded with prolific songwriter, producer
and arranger Allen Toussaint. Irma is
famous for her Mac & Cheese, which was
featured in WWOZ's cookbook, That
Sounds Good, and hits including “Don't
Mess With My Man,” “It's Raining” and
“Ruler of My Heart.”
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1
box Mac & Cheese mix,
prepared according to the package directions
½ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese
½ cup shredded American cheese
4
eggs
1 - 2 cups whole milk
1
tablespoon sugar, or to taste
1
stick of butter, melted
HOW TO PREP
Combine the Mac & Cheese, shredded cheeses,
eggs, milk, sugar and butter in a bowl and mix well.
Pour into a large baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees
the
Food & Music
issue
Irma Thomas – Photo by
Sandy Maillho