Feature Articles Letter to the Editor 2002 Boogie King gets no sympathy from the Midwest Dear Editor: I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment of "The Fabulous Boogie Kings" in the Winter/Spring issue and look forward to the next installment. However, I would like to take issue with one of Mr. Theall's statements: "In 1955, the closest thing to live rock music for Louisiana kids was a few black groups from New Orleans that sounded like dog shit." Now, I can admit to having smelled some dog doo, but have never listened to it. However, my real issue is the inference. If Mr. Theall wants to know about a real dearth of live original rock music, he should ask someone who grew up in the Midwest. Where was he in the mid-'50s when one of the greatest rock originators, Louisiana bad boy Bobby Charles, was performing? Were Frogman Henry, Fats and Smiley Lewis some of the black dog shits he had to listen to? By my reckoning, Paul Gayten, Dave Bartholomew, Annie Laurie, the great Roy Brown ("Good Rocking Tonight," Deluxe, June 1948), Guitar Slim, Earl Palmer, Huey Smith, Shirley & Lee, etc., etc., were all active in recording and appearances in and around the New Orleans area, in the early and middle '50s. It's a stretch to feel too sorry for the kids growing up at that time in that area. Couldn't afford the big stars? You had one of the best radio outlets in the entire south, KTHS out of Little Rock. The best r&r and r&b could be heard, sponsored by Stan's Record Shop in Shreveport. Perhaps he is so rooted in what came out in the '60s (there are a lot of us who think that was the real canine droppings), that he has overlooked what has always been considered the original rock 'n' roll. May have been he was inhaling too much in the '60s and the '50s became a very dim memory? OK, I will now attempt to remove my tongue from my cheek. Ned, best of luck to you, I'm waiting for the next installment. In the meantime, though, perhaps you should listen to another Orleans-influenced artist, Jimmy Beasley's recording of "Don't Feel Sorry For Me" (Crown, 1956). I would be happy to make you a tape of that and all of the other artists mentioned. -- Dan Demuth, Colorado Springs, Colo.

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