Hank Williams

Terry Huval and the Jambalaya Cajun Band put together another excellent program in their second annual tribute to Hank Williams Sr.  The tribute was held December 29, 2001, at the Liberty Theater in Eunice, with a matinee show at 2 p.m. and an program at 6 p.m.

Hugh Harris, who amazed the audience at the first program, returned to provide his remarkable renditions of Hank Williams' songs that capture both the vocal and emotional quality of the most extraordinary musician in the history of country music.  Harris opened the show with "Honky Tonk Blues," and then, as the audience cheered, sang "Lost Highway" and "Move It on Over."

Camey Doucet was back again for the 2001 show, opening his first set with "You Win Again," followed by "Settin' the Wood on Fire."

D.L. Menard was in fine form, as always, singing "Lonesome Whistle" and then a lesser known song, "My Love for You (Has Turned to Hate)."

Terry Huval's first set included one of Williams' narrative songs, "A Picture from Life's Other Side."

Pope Huval, who released his first Cajun and country CD in fall 2001, sang "Take These Chains from My Heart."

The rest of the evening offered  more famous songs like "Hey, Good Lookin,'" as well as a few "B" sides of famous hits to give the audience a taste of some excellent songs that are not as familiar.

The evening ended with everyone on stage to sing "Jambalaya," followed by an encore, "I Saw the Light," with the audience joining in on the chorus.

Other musicians were Gina Forsyth, fiddle; Bobby Dumatrait and Kyle Harris, lead guitar; Randy Champagne, acoustic guitar; Kenneth David, upright bass; Tony Huval Drums. Barry Ancelet was the master of ceremonies.

Click here to return to the page on the first Hank Williams Tribute.

Terry Huval is shown in the top left column on steel guitar. Beneath him are Hugh Harris, Camey Doucet, Pope Huval, and another shot of Terry Huval. D.L. Menard is shown below wearing a coat that Hank Williams Jr. provided for the filming of movie The Hank Williams Story (an audience member brought it along and let Menard wear it during part of the program). Hugh Harris is shown again in the next photo.

Gina Forsyth, shown at left, played fiddle again this year, earning the admiration of D.L. Menard and also of the entire audience. For once, appearing on stage instead of lurking in the balcony with a TV camera, Jerry Devillier, the very dedicated videographer who handles production of all of Rendez-vous des Cajuns Shows for television, demonstrated his harmonica playing skill during the final numbers. The entire band is shown on stage in the bottom shot. Reggie Matte, who was a sound technician for most of the show, brought loud cheers from the crowd when he stepped forward with his accordion during "Jambalaya." Seen from left are Hugh Harris, Terry Huval, Bobby Dumatrait, Gina Forsyth, Kyle Harris, Jerry Devillier, Reggie Matte, Tony Huval (in back), D.L. Menard, Randy Champagne, Pope Huval, Camey Doucet, Kenneth David.

Posted 1-20-02

All photographs and text by David Simpson.

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