History

The Rock'n'Bowl had become a recognized part of the New Orleans music scene by 1993. In June, I had begun a regular Zydeco night every Thursday and it was met with immediate enthusiasm. I had no idea that there was a pent up demand for the southwest Louisiana music idiom in New Orleans. That enthusiasm was about to vault me into the national and the international music scene. Looking back, what occurred is another example of the invisible hand of God working his magic.

One Thursday early evening in October, a fellow in his mid fifties sat at the bar in a t-shirt, cut off shorts and sandals. I was working the bar because one of my bartenders didn't show up for work. He was eating an alligator po-boy and I began a conversation. " You're not from here, huh?" I asked. He told me, "No, how do you know?". "Because only tourists eat alligator po-boys. The locals eat shrimp and oyster po-boys," I informed him. I explained the alligator was on the menu primarily to initiate attention, as I had to be, perhaps, the only bowling alley in the world serving alligator. He explained to me that he had just gotten into town and the hotel where he was staying had already closed their kitchen. He went across the street to the Home Plate Inn, a local bar/restaurant, but their kitchen was closed. They sent him down the street to the bowling alley. At that time, I had a mentally handicapped bowling league on Thursday nights. I explained that as the league ended, Zydeco music would begin and there would be a complete turn around in the crowd from bowlers to dancers. That night, the renowned Rockin Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters was scheduled. Things got pretty busy that night and I never got from behind the bar since I was a bartender short. Near the end of the night, one of my customers told me I had to meet someone they had met and the guy was a writer for the National Geographic. Things had calmed down and when I walked over, lo and behold, it was the fellow whom I had served the alligator po-boy at the bar.

He loved the place and the music. He had been sent by National Geographic to spend several months in New Orleans in an attempt to get a pulse on the city. Unable to get a room downtown, the only vacancy he could find was down the street from my business. It was pure happenstance that he ended up in my business. He shortly after found an apartment but he returned every Thursday night for the Zydeco.