Leroy Martin was born on August 4, 1929 and raised in Golden Meadow. At a very young age, his Uncles Frank & Roy showed him the three guitar chords that they knew and from then on Leroy was hooked. His musical career started in 1947 when he replaced a guitarist in Dudley Bernard's band, the "Southern Serenaders" which also featured Vin Bruce. In 1955, Leroy formed his own band, "The Rebels." Later he joined a group called "The Vikings" whose vocalist was Joe Barry, Leroy's cousin. In the early 1960's, Leroy made his name as a record producer, first with Vin Bruce's Cajun album for Swallow Records. Later he produced the national hit for Joe Barry and JIN records, "I'm A Fool to Care." He supervised many recording sessions at Cosimo's Studio in New Orleans, including his own hits, "Born to be a Loser" and "There Goes That Train."

Leroy's dream of recording his own French Cajun songs came true in 1995, when he produced "Leroy Martin Cajun Folk Songs, Fun Songs, & Love Songs" CD; recorded on the Swallow label and distributed by Floyd Soileau of Ville Platte. Quoted from the liner notes on this CD Mr. Martin says, "I have never pretended to be a great singer, which is why I spent most of my life promoting artists whom I thought were, but I did feel I could interpret a song and since I wrote every song on this CD, I know that every note comes from my heart and soul."

Never one to laze around, Martin had a notable career as a public servant. In 1983 he gave up his radio show to run for Lafourche Parish Assessor, an office he had worked in since 1953. He won that election and was the Parish Tax Assessor starting January 1, 1985 for four terms. He was replaced in that office by his son after retiring. He was appointed to the Louisiana Music Commission by Governor Edwin Edwards and in 1994 inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Bio from Westbank Musicians Hall of Fame

« Artists