From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Thu Mar 27, 2003  1:18 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Eddie Shuler
 
EDDIE SHULER (By Shaun Mather)

Born 27 March 1913, Wrightsboro, Texas

Although born across the border in Texas, Eddie Shuler has made his
name as an integrral part of the Louisiana music scene. The founder and 
owner of the Lake Charles-based record label, Goldband, he ran one of 
the state's most important record labels. He was the producer of the first 
Zydeco record, Paper in My Shoe by Boozoo Chavis, in 1942. He also 
co-wrote Bon Ton Roula with Clarence Garlow (# 7 R&B in 1950), now a
recognised classic and staple of most Louisiana bands. 

In 1943 he became a member of the traditional Cajun band the Hackberry
Ramblers, but left two years later to open a record store. He set up
Goldband and one of his mainstays was the legendary Cajun, Iry LeJeune 
(his son Eddie is a fine artist today). During the 1950s and '60s, he produced
many influential recordings by Freddie Fender, Rockin' Sydney, Katie Webster, 
Jimmy C. Newman, Juke Boy Bonner and Cookie and the Cupcakes among
others.
Unfortunately, the quality of Goldband's output was not reflected in the charts.
The only Goldband single to enter the Billboard Top 100 was "Sugar Bee" by
Cleveland Crochet, which peaked at # 80 in 1961. But many Shuler productions
were local or regional hits.

Ace has released several good Goldband compilations:
Eddie's House of Hits : The Story of Goldband Records (Ace 424)
Boppin' Tonight : Goldband Rockabilly (Ace 442)
Louisiana Rockers (Ace 491)
Bayou Rockabilly Cats (Ace 744).
Website: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/g/Goldband_Recording_Corporation.html
Further reading: John Broven, South To Louisiana : The Music of the Cajun
Bayous. Gretna, LA : Pelican, 1983.