Jay Chevalier
Encyclopedia
Jay Chevalier is a singer and songwriter from Louisiana who has achieved success in several musical genres over four decades. To people outside of Louisiana, Chevalier is most noted as one of the early pioneers of rockabilly music, but he is perhaps more famous to the citizens of the bayou state for his popular songs based on politics, sports, and his love for the state. His legacy includes being named the first Official State Troubadour of Louisiana and as an inductee to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
, the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
and the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
’s national TV show on CBS in 1957. Upon his discharge, he recorded his first record, Rockin [!!] Roll Angel. Gene Vincent
had just recorded Be-Bop-A-Lula, and the two became good friends, working together in Norfolk, Virginia.
That same year, Chevalier also released Billy Cannon, a rollicking tribute to LSU’s only Heisman Trophy
winner who helped his team win the 1958 national championship. On Halloween Night, 1959, Cannon electrified a partisan LSU crowd and stunned the Ole Miss Rebels with a fourth-quarter, 89-yard punt return to give the Tigers a 7-3 victory.
Chevalier attended the game with Gov. Long and while he was not really a football fan, he witnessed the pandemonium of the Tiger Stadium crowd after the touchdown and wrote the song that night. A record was released within days, adding to Cannon’s already mythical appeal, and the name Jay Chevalier became a household word from Shreveport to Lake Charles to New Orleans.
. Dale & Grace had just recorded an old Don and Dewey Squires song, I’m Leaving It All up to You. It was while the three were on tour that the song took off, eventually rising to number 1 in the nation and selling two million copies.
Also in 1963, a homesick Chevalier recorded another regional hit, Come Back to Louisiana. The song was revived when it was featured in the 1996 movie Blaze, in which Paul Newman
played Earl Long. Chevalier served as a consultant for the movie and played the role of Sen. Paul Braden.
In the '70s, Chevalier returned to Louisiana from Las Vegas and managed a number of political campaigns. Chevalier made a brief entry into politics with an unsuccessful bid for the office of lieutenant governor in 1995.
Come Back to Louisiana was re-recorded in 2006 to encourage victims of Hurricane Katrina
to return home and to rebuild. The Louisiana Legislature adopted it as the official state song in 2006, giving Louisiana, already the only state with two state songs – You Are My Sunshine by former Gov. Jimmie Davis
and Give Me Louisiana – three official ballads. Chevalier, who now lives in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, had his office flooded and his home suffered tree damage during Hurricane Katrina. Somehow, it seems only natural that he would remake Come Back to Louisiana and end up singing it a cappella to the Louisiana Legislature. He still performs several times a year and has performed for two international festivals in England: the Hemsby Festival (2005) and the Americana Festival (2006).
. He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in January 2003.
and on December 7, 2008, Jay Chevalier was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
. He was also designated “Official State Troubadour” by an act of the Louisiana Legislature in 2006.
, Louisiana
. He gives back to the community by teaching driver's education along with his Spanish-speaking wife Giselle at J and G International Driving School
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the internet on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre....
, the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is an IRS certified 501 non-profit organization based in the state capitol of Baton Rouge, La., that seeks to preserve Louisiana's rich music culture and heritage and to further educate its citizens and people worldwide about the state’s unique role contributing...
and the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
Early Life and Career
Jay Chevalier was born on March 4, 1936 in Forest Hill near Lecompte, Louisiana and reared in the small town of Midway just south of Alexandria. He says he grew up “poor and naked in the piney wood hills along the banks of Bayou Boeuf.” In 1954, Chevalier enlisted in the Marine Corps where he formed his first band, which appeared on Jimmy DeanJimmy Dean
Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. Although he may be best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand, he became a national television personality starting in 1957, rising to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad...
’s national TV show on CBS in 1957. Upon his discharge, he recorded his first record, Rockin [!!] Roll Angel. Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
had just recorded Be-Bop-A-Lula, and the two became good friends, working together in Norfolk, Virginia.
Rise to Fame with The Ballad of Earl K. Long and Billy Cannon
In 1959, three-time Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long, who was barred by the State Constitution from succeeding himself, was running for lieutenant governor on a ticket headed by another former governor, James A. Noe of Monroe. Chevalier, intrigued by the flamboyant character and his history, composed and recorded The Ballad of Earl K. Long which was initially banned from radio play because it was suspected to be a political ploy, although Chevalier had never personally met Long. Within a short time the song found its way onto the airways and was enthusiastically received, resulting in sales of more than 100,000 copies of the single in the state. Long won the election.That same year, Chevalier also released Billy Cannon, a rollicking tribute to LSU’s only Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner who helped his team win the 1958 national championship. On Halloween Night, 1959, Cannon electrified a partisan LSU crowd and stunned the Ole Miss Rebels with a fourth-quarter, 89-yard punt return to give the Tigers a 7-3 victory.
Chevalier attended the game with Gov. Long and while he was not really a football fan, he witnessed the pandemonium of the Tiger Stadium crowd after the touchdown and wrote the song that night. A record was released within days, adding to Cannon’s already mythical appeal, and the name Jay Chevalier became a household word from Shreveport to Lake Charles to New Orleans.
Other Career Highlights
By 1962, he was performing an extended engagement at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. In 1963, he added a nineteen-year-old Baton Rouge girl, Grace Broussard, to his show that already included Dale HoustonDale Houston
Dale Houston was an American singer who, along with his performing partner, Grace Broussard, got to the top of the Billboard chart as Dale & Grace with two rock and roll hits. The first was the gold record one million seller "I'm Leaving It Up to You" in 1963. "Stop and Think It Over" reached #8...
. Dale & Grace had just recorded an old Don and Dewey Squires song, I’m Leaving It All up to You. It was while the three were on tour that the song took off, eventually rising to number 1 in the nation and selling two million copies.
Also in 1963, a homesick Chevalier recorded another regional hit, Come Back to Louisiana. The song was revived when it was featured in the 1996 movie Blaze, in which Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
played Earl Long. Chevalier served as a consultant for the movie and played the role of Sen. Paul Braden.
In the '70s, Chevalier returned to Louisiana from Las Vegas and managed a number of political campaigns. Chevalier made a brief entry into politics with an unsuccessful bid for the office of lieutenant governor in 1995.
Come Back to Louisiana was re-recorded in 2006 to encourage victims of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
to return home and to rebuild. The Louisiana Legislature adopted it as the official state song in 2006, giving Louisiana, already the only state with two state songs – You Are My Sunshine by former Gov. Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
and Give Me Louisiana – three official ballads. Chevalier, who now lives in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, had his office flooded and his home suffered tree damage during Hurricane Katrina. Somehow, it seems only natural that he would remake Come Back to Louisiana and end up singing it a cappella to the Louisiana Legislature. He still performs several times a year and has performed for two international festivals in England: the Hemsby Festival (2005) and the Americana Festival (2006).
Honors
Chevalier is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of FameRockabilly Hall of Fame
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the internet on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre....
. He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in January 2003.
and on December 7, 2008, Jay Chevalier was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is an IRS certified 501 non-profit organization based in the state capitol of Baton Rouge, La., that seeks to preserve Louisiana's rich music culture and heritage and to further educate its citizens and people worldwide about the state’s unique role contributing...
. He was also designated “Official State Troubadour” by an act of the Louisiana Legislature in 2006.
Retirement
Jay currently is residing in KennerKenner
Kenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located, which is just north of Cincinnati's Union Terminal.Kenner introduced its...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He gives back to the community by teaching driver's education along with his Spanish-speaking wife Giselle at J and G International Driving School