Birth name Leroy Leblanc Also known as Happy Fats | Name Leroy Leblanc Genres Cajun music | |
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Born January 30, 1915
Rayne, Louisiana, United States ( 1915-01-30 ) Occupation(s) Accordionist, guitarist, vocalist Instruments Cajun accordion, guitar, vocals Associated acts Rayne-Bo Ramblers, Happy, Doc, and the Boys Died February 23, 1988, Rayne, Louisiana, United States Albums His Rayne-Bo Ramblers 1938-1949 Record labels RCA Records, Decca Records, Bluebird Records, De Luxe Records Similar People Harry Choates, Leo Soileau, Nathan Abshire, Hackberry Ramblers, Joe Falcon | ||
Nouveau Grand Gueydan - Happy Fats & His Rayne-Bo Ramblers 1937
Leroy "Happy Fats" Leblanc (January 30, 1915 – February 23, 1988) was a Cajun swing musician that recorded with RCA Records in the 1930s and 1940s. He is known for his recordings with Harry Choates and his broadcasts on KVOL. Next to the Hackberry Ramblers, the Rayne-Bo Ramblers were the most popular and innovative of the Cajun string bands.
Contents
- Nouveau Grand Gueydan Happy Fats His Rayne Bo Ramblers 1937
- Family
- Music and career
- Legacy
- Discography
- References
Family
Leroy was born on January 30, 1915 Rayne, Louisiana to Gilbert Leblanc and Carrie Bird Hoffpauir. He married Della Meche. He traded rice in order to purchase his first guitar.
Music and career
In 1932, his career started when he played guitar with Joe Falcon and Amedee Breaux. Later, in 1935, he would create the band known as the "Rayne-Bo Ramblers" which started as the backup band for Nathan Abshire and played regularly at the OST Club in Rayne. The band featured people such as "Rang Tang Bully" Joe Werner, Harry Choates, Oran "Doc" Guidry, Nathan Abshire and many more. By 1940, he and Harry recorded their first hit, "La Veuve de la Coulee". In 1941, the band split up and Happy joined Leo Soileau's "Rhythm Boys". Later, he would tour with Tex Ritter and appear on the world-famous Louisiana Hayride.
By 1953, every morning on KVOL, Happy would play popular Cajun bands on his radio talk show. That same year, he would meet with John Pusateri, form the "Bayou Buckaroos", and record with Bella Records of San Jose. In his later years, Happy Fats signed up with J. D. "Jay" Miller's "Red Rebel Records". In 1966, he recorded popular segregationist tunes, including one entitled "Dear Mr. President".
Legacy
On November 9, 1980, Governor Edwin Edwards declared the day "Happy Fats" Leblanc Day. He suffered from diabetes and died in 1988.
Discography
Compilations