From:   "jean.marc.pezet 
Date:  Mon Aug 19, 2002  3:10 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You: Al Ferrier
 
AL FERRIER (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born 19 August 1935, Montgomery, Louisiana

King Of Louisiana Rockabilly

Al was raised as part of a very big family (of 11
children) where his parents and brothers (7 of them!)
played fiddle and guitar. Mostly influenced by country
music (Grandpa Jones, and later Hank Williams), it became
natural for young Al to play and sing. By 13, he quit
school and began working with his brothers chopping woods.
Al soon formed a country trio with 2 older brothers,
Bryan and Warren and played dances around South
Louisiana. In 1955, following advices from Jimmy 'C'
Newman, they went down to Lake Charles and recorded for
the now famous Eddie Shuler's Goldband label. They cut
some country boogies and some rockabillies, with a great
and particular rural sound to them, including the
favourite "Let's Go Boppin Tonight". Between 1955 and
1957, Goldband issued 14 singles by Al Ferrier, with no
real commercial impact, although the band played a lot on
the Louisiana circuit and even appeared several times on
the Louisiana Hayride (with co-star Elvis Presley).
In 1957, Al recorded for the other famous Louisiana
producer J.D. Miller. The first single was "Hey Baby", a
recut of "Let's Go Boppin Tonight" which was picked up
by Nashville's Excello. J.D. Miller also issued several
other singles on his own labels such as Zynn and Rocko.
None of the singles made any noise and although the band
was first in great demand to play, work began to get
harder and thinner and Al disappeared back into the
Louisiana woods.
It was not until the 1970s that he was "discovered" by
some European rockabilly collectors, leading to a new
career up until the late 1980s with new rockabilly
records and successful country records in the USA, playing
the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and finally
appearing in Europe in Holland in 1987.

More info: http://www.rockabilly.nl/artists/aferrier.htm
Recommended listening:
Al Ferrier's work has been heavily reissued during the
vinyl days on Flyright and Charly/Goldband notably.

The following CDs feature a small part of Al recorded
work:
- "Bayou Rockabilly Cats" (ACE CDCHD 7444) contains 3 Al's
Goldband singles in undubbed form.
- "Hey Baby : The Rockin South" (ACE CDCCHD 641) contains
Al's Excello single.

Footnote:
A complete CD of the 50s recordings by Al Ferrier is long
overdue (Ace or Bear Family?).