“Taunt Sue de Mamou” dies

By: TONY MARKS
Editor

A beloved member of the community, affectionately known as “Taunt Sue de Mamou,” passed away on Tuesday, April 1, at the age of 93.
Her Christian name was Carina Alice Vasseur, and she was known worldwide for keeping the Cajun culture of Mamou alive while being involved with the iconic Fred’s Lounge.
For her efforts, Vasseur was twice recognized by the Cajun Music Festival.
The first time was in 2005, but the festival was preempted by Hurricane Katrina. Even though the festival was cancelled, Vasseur still accepted the award.
In the Thursday, September 8, 2005, edition of the Ville Platte Gazette, the following was shared.
Before “Tante Sue” Vasseur proudly accepted the award on behalf of the lounge, her daughter, Sandra Tate McClelland shared a brief history of her father’s life and his world famous bar.
Alfred Tate, born in 1912, was one of 13 children, including his twin brother, Alphan. He married Carina Sue “Tante Sue” Fontenot in 1948, and they remained friends after their divorce. They have one son, Ronald J. Tate, and two daughters, Sandra Tate McClelland and Sharon Tate Berzas. They also raised Sue’s nephew, Preston James “Jimmy” Dugas, as their son.
McClelland said her father had a role in getting the state legislature to declare Mamou “The Cajun Music Capital of the World.” Tate’s other accomplishments included the revival of the Courir de Mardi Gras and the organization of the Mardi Gras Association of Mamou. He also played a large role in establishing CODOFIL and was a charter member of the Mamou Fire Department, which was established in 1949.
Tate became the sole owner of the bar he bought from his brother in 1946, and it became a family run business. The bar was rebuilt at its present location in 1960.
Fred’s Lounge became famous world-wide, and many well-known people, including astronauts John Glenn and Bob Crippen, author Glenn Pitre, actors Dennis Quaid and Terrence Knox, and news anchors, Charles Kuralt and Peter Jennings, have visited the establishment.
As Fred’s Lounge became famous, it was featured in television shows and magazine articles, including Charles Kuralt’s “On the Road” program and National Geographic magazine, where it was a cover feature. The bar was also featured on a PBS documentary called “Do You Speak American.” In 2001, Fred’s Lounge was ranked number 12 in the top 50 tourist attractions of Cajun country by Acadian Profile magazine. In 2005, The Cajun French Music Association honored Fred’s Lounge with the Heritage Award.
Fred’s Lounge is well known for its contribution to Cajun music. In the early years, Cajun bands were only hired for special occasions. In 1968, Revon Reed began playing Cajun music records, which were broadcast on the KEUN radio station.
A three-piece band was then hired to play for the Saturday morning broadcasts.
Donald Thibodeaux and Cajun Fever, a five-piece band, was hired around 1985-1986, to play during the broadcast, and continued to do so for 11 years.
In 1987, KEUN moved, and Tate joined with KVPI to continue the broadcast with Jim Soileau as disc jockey.
Beginning in 1997, four bands were hired to rotate each week of the month. The KVPI broadcast continues every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
After Tate’s death in 1992, his children inherited the establishment and continued to operate it for the next four years in order to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 1996. Governor Mike Foster presented the bar with a bronze plaque commemorating the event. The plaque is now displayed outside near the entrance to the building.
In 1997, Fred’s Lounge was sold to David Guillory, on the condition “Tante Sue” remained as manager. To many patrons, “Tante Sue” is Fred’s Lounge, and she still runs the bar under the motto, “At Fred’s, nobody is rich and nobody is poor; nobody is pretty and nobody is ugly; everyone is here to have a good time.”
Then, in 2023, Vasseur was honored as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Mamou Cajun Music Festival.
“I want to thank everyone, and God bless y’all,” she said at the time. “This has been one of my most beautiful and happiest days of my life. It is such a wonderful honor to be selected for the award.”
Vasseur’s obituary can be found on Page 3.