Swamp Pop Music

by Bridgette Duhon

Swamp pop originated in Louisiana in the mid-to late 50's. It is a blend of Country, Western, Cajun, New Orleans , and Creole music and Rhythm and Blues. Swamp Pop remains popular in the twentieth century when teenagers from south Louisiana cultures blended the sounds of singers such as Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard with traditional Louisiana music to create swamp pop.

The typical swamp pop sound consists mainly of emotional vocals, simple, sometimes bilingual lyrics, Creole honky-tonk pianos, flowing sax sections, and a strong rhythm and blues backbeat. Classic swamp pop songs include Rod Bernard, "This Should Go On Forever," Cookie and The Cupcakes, "Mathilda," Tommy Mclain, "Sweet Dreams," Dale and Grace, "I'm Leaving it Up To You." A few famous pop songs strongly influenced by swamp pop include Bill Haley and The Comets' re-recorded version of "Later Alligator," The Rolling Stones' take on Barbara Lynn's "You'll Lose A Good Thing," and The Beatles' original version of "Oh Darling."

Source: Shane K. Bernard, Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1996).