From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Feb 18, 2002  1:14 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Warren Storm
 
WARREN STORM

Born Warren Joseph Schexnider, 18 February 1937, Vermilion Parish,
Louisiana

Swamp pop singer / drummer.

Warren Storm's very first record, "The Prisoner's Song" entered the Billboard
Hot 100 on 25 August 1958, at # 81. The next week it was # 90 and the week
after that the record dropped off the charts. Storm would never have a national
hit again, in spite of the high quality of many of his recordings.
"The Prisoner's Song" (a million seller for Vernon Dalhart in 1924) was recorded
for Jay Miller's Nasco label. The flip, "Mama Mama Mama" was almost too good
to be on the same single ; it could have been a hit in its own right. The
follow-ups
were in the same, Fats Domino-type, style, but were at best local hits. After
the
Nasco contract expired, Storm continued recording for Jay Miller's own tiny
Rocko
and Zynn labels in the hope of gaining the attention of national labels. In
1960, he
recorded "Bohawk Georgia Grind" for Top Rank, in Nashville (with Grady, Hank,
Floyd, Boots and Buddy), but a few months later Top Rank went out of business.
A session for Dot followed in 1961. During the decade 1963-1973 he recorded for
Huey Meaux's labels, then went back with J.D. Miller, who again tried in vain to
break Storm outside of Louisiana. He continues to play the clubs and lounges of
Lafayette and records the occasional CD for local labels.
He is also an excellent drummer, starting with a dance band in 1950. His style
is heavily influenced by New Orleans drummers Earl Palmer and Charles "Hungry"
Williams. During the 1958-1963 period, Warren was session drummer for Jay
Miller, accompanying swamp-blues stars Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, Lazy Lester
and Lonesome Sundown and many other acts. Saxophonist Lionel Prevost and
pianist Katie Webster were part of the same stellar session group.

Further reading: John Broven, South To Louisiana (Pelican Books, 1983), p.
244-250.
Four of his best Nasco recordings can be found on "Hey Baby : The Rockin' South"
(Ace 641). Also recommended: Warren Storm, The Crazy Cajun Recordings, on
Edsel 636. (From his period with Huey Meaux.)