Northeast Louisiana Music Trail

article by VANELIS RIVERA / photography by ANDREW BAILEY

IN LOUISIANA, MUSIC IS LIKE GUMBO—strongly flavored, a combination of several savory ingredients, and cooked slow and low. Yet, while every corner of the Bayou State can boast of musical greats, most eyes and ears tend to settle in South Louisiana when it comes to music culture, particularly New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. So reputable is the city that many blues zealots, Americans and international visitors alike, find it a rite of passage to take the pilgrimage down what has been dubbed the Blues Highway (US Route 61). They make their way from Memphis, traverse through markers in the Mississippi Blues Trail, and finalize their journey in New Orleans. Though a rightful Mecca for jazz lovers, the music history of the state of Louisiana has its fusions of the southern coast as only one of a myriad of melodic and tonal treasures. Doyle Jeter, founder and former owner of Enoch’s Irish Pub & Cafe, has known this for years and is endeavoring to uncover distinct artists of northern Louisiana in the form of the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail. 

“Well, mainly, the gist of it is we’ve been presenting live music for 42 years. And we’ve always wanted to give back to the musicians because without the musicians, you know, it’s not that we wouldn’t be around. But it sure has made it a lot of fun,” enthuses Doyle who alongside his wife Yvette opened Enoch’s Pub & Cafe in 1980. Since then, a slew of local and regional talent has rolled through. “We’ve had the honor of having Grammy Award winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Country Music Hall of Famers, people that were heroes of ours that played for us, and a lot of those people are from this area,” says Doyle referring to acts like Townes Van Zant, Jerry Jeff Walker, Marcia Ball, Leon Russell, Rick Danko, and Po’Henry and Tookie. Inspired by the immense talent stepping on the Enoch’s stage, Doyle began to have conversations aimed to somehow honor the standout musicians of the region. In the span of about 20 years, the concept of creating historical landmarks developed. His daughter Molly alongside friend Odis Jackson and Jackson’s son Dexter were instrumental in reinvigorating the idea of a music trail. 

The final product is the project now in motion, the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail, a series of historical markers spread around the 11 parish region. Signs honoring Po’Henry and Tookie, Webb Pierce, Mabel John, Tony Joe White, Ivory Joe Hunter, Hoss Logan, Odis Jackson, Bobby Bridger, and Sister Pearlee Mae Tolliver are already in motion. Meanwhile, a few others are still in the planning stages including greats like Gene Stewart, Al “Puddler” Harris, and Doug Duffey. “Somehow we get lost in the mix,” Doyle emphasizes, adding, “Sometimes Northeast Louisiana doesn’t get as much recognition.” His hope is that culture-centered projects like this remedy the neglected artists and creators of the area. Doyle has also partnered with the office of Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser in their pursuit of the Louisiana Music Experience, a program aimed to recognize performers and venues statewide.

With a growing number of virtuosos, Doyle and the team got started on their inaugural artist Fred Carter, Jr., famed guitarist, songwriter, producer, recording artist, and “rock and roll pioneer” from Winnsboro, Louisiana. Doyle credits his “dear old friend” singer/songwriter Bobby Bridger with introducing him to “the magic” of Fred close to 50 years ago. “Fred was Bobby’s best friend, mentor, ultimate collaborator, and yes, guru. Bobby is the reason it was ultimately important to me that we begin this music trail with Fred Carter Jr.,” says Doyle, adding that Bobby was also the reason Fred played at Enoch’s “so many years ago.” 

Carter was commemorated in his hometown of Winnsboro on January 29th of this year. On that day, the warmth of the sun offset a persistent crisp chill. An eager crowd had already formed in front of the Downtown gazebo where a sign draped in burgundy velvet awaited unveiling. Jeter kickstarted the ceremony by mentioning supporting partners which included Winnsboro Main Street, Princess Theatre, Enoch’s Irish Pub & Cafe, KEDM Public Radio, and Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, as well as providing the inspiration for the project and some of Carter’s most notable accomplishments. Then, the Carter family was welcomed to speak: wife Anna “Sweetie” Carter (also, a Winnsboro native) and children Ronnie, Deana, and Jeff. “He was a wonderful partner and God blessed me with a good marriage,” began Sweetie, finishing with “Thank all of you for coming and honoring Fred. He would be so humbled and thankful.” As the oldest, Ronnie was the first to step toward the mic. He touched on the depth to which Louisiana was embedded in his father’s life: “The community here, the values that dad learned here are family, faith, hard work, discipline. All of those things, they came through in his music.” Deana and Jeff followed both retelling stories of their visits to Winnsboro and thanking the crowd for their love and support. 

The cloth over the sign was then pulled away by the Carter family to reveal a black and white photograph of Fred with an acoustic guitar hoisted on his lap and 10 lines on his musical importance and significance. “We could put 1000 signs out here and fill every one of them up with his background,” says Doyle, adding, “And that sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s really not.” Carter began his career working as a guitarist on the “Louisiana Hayride,” a country music show based in Shreveport that aired on television from 1955 to 1960. When he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, he became a well-established session musician, appearing in hits like Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” and Waylon Jennings’ “Whistlers and Jugglers.” Touring with Roy Orbison and Conway Twitty led to working with other artists such as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters. “He could metamorph himself creatively, to always be at the ready and to participate on such a superb level with those cats. It was a big deal because those records are still in the charts,” says Deana. 

Fred’s musical legacy not only takes the form of his songs but also extends to his daughter whose 1996 debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This (with its chart topping Song of the Year “Strawberry Wine”) was certified 5X Multi-Platinum by the year 2000. “I still pinch myself because I never dreamed that I would get to carry on any kind of music legacy, and especially as an artist,” reveals Deana. “It’s so humbling. It’s still very shocking that that would happen in my life.” Alongside her brother Jeff and other musical guests, she headlined a tribute performance for her father the night of the unveiling. She played at the Princess Theatre to a packed house, which speaks to the impression the Carters have had by way of their music. The performance was intimate, akin to a family gathering where song playing and storytelling flow as freely as food and drink. “This community cares about one another. I just think all of that combined is the best recipe, you know, for the greatest meal in the whole wide world,” says Deana. 

“Music is always a part of a community almost without fail,” asserts Doyle, speaking to the “proof in the pudding” as far as music and cultural identity are concerned. Deana agrees, “There’s something about the Delta here…it’s the cotton, the drip, it’s the sweat, it’s the heat in the food along with the sweet…that’s something that permeates the creative community here.” Ultimately, the bond of the Ark-La-Miss region is cemented in the stories that distinguish the area. Stories of people who have left a mark. Stories of people meant to be celebrated. That’s the impetus behind the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail, honoring people through their stories. 

Keep up with and join the Northeast Louisiana music Trail Group on Facebook in order to keep up with future events, and the history of music in our area.