Swamp Pop Soiree is held

Prior to the annual Swamp Pop Reunion held at the Northside Civic Center Monday, evening, February 20, performers and their guests enjoyed a pre-show get together at the Swamp Pop Museum. In the top photo, from left, Bob Manuel, former Ville Platte mayors Phil Lemoine and Bill Jeanmard and current mayor Ryan Leday Williams were recognized by museum curator Sharon Fontenot (between Jeanmard and Williams) for their contributions and dedication to the museum. She thanked Manuel, Lemoine and Jeanmard for their hard work in getting the museum up and running. She also thanked Mayor Williams for his dedication in keeping the museum going, saying, “Ryan represents the future of the museum and he realized the importance of it and is very supportive of it.” In the bottom left photo, Arthur Broussard, brother of Grace Broussard of Dale and Grace fame, signed one of the cutting boards to be auctioned off at the event later in the evening. In the bottom right photo, entertainer Johnnie Allen shared a few words of the history and importance of Swamp Pop music. He said, “I always joked that we would be put in a museum one day, and this is what happens when you live long enough.” (Gazette photos by Heather Bogard)