Ville Platte museum preserves history of Swamp Pop

VILLE PLATTE — The speakers outside of the Swamp Pop Museum play the music of a variety of Swamp Pop musicians ranging from Little Bob of “I Got Loaded” fame to Clint West of “Big Blue Diamond” fame. The sounds coming from the speakers prepare you for the stories you will hear and the artifacts you will see that will better explain this unique Louisiana genre of music which calls the Acadiana region of Louisiana its home.
Upon entry into the building you will see a stage set up with multiple instruments that were used by Swamp Pop musicians such as Warren Storm. You’ll feel as though you are back in the 1960’s waiting for your favorite musician to take the stage and perform.
Much like the many blended cultures that make up Louisiana, the sound of Swamp Pop music has been influenced by multiple different genres of music. Swamp Pop Museum Director Janie Knighten said, “Swamp Pop was formed from blending a variety of different genres of music together such as Rock and Roll, New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, and traditional French Louisiana sounds.”
Knighten can provide visitors with her own personal stories of playing Swamp Pop music because she was married to the late Charles Knighten. With so much understanding and appreciation of this genre of music, today Knighten plays the tambourine for her son’s band, Todd Knighten and Knight Train.
The museum was created to showcase the musicians that had a hand in making this genre of music, as well as the musicians who have kept the Swamp Pop style alive today.
As a visitor of the museum, you are able to view authentic clothes, records, photos, and instruments from the musicians who have played a part in making Swamp Pop music what it is today.
Along with showcasing local musicians from this genre, the museum also offers a look back at the local businesses the musicians use to play at, most of which do not exist anymore. From The Jungle to the Evangeline Club, the museum is filled with artifacts from the different lounges that gave local musicians a stage to share this new style of music.
According to Knighten the music’s popularity in this region came from the fact that “This music was being played at all of the bars and restaurants in the area,” Knighten said, “There was always a line of cars at the Evangeline Club when an artist was going to be playing.”
While this style of music began in this part of Louisiana, today the Swamp Pop genre has to grown to reach people all over the world. Knighten said, “Since the museum has opened we have had visitors from 36 states and nine countries.”
This past week Knighten welcomed a visitor to the museum from Oregon. Knighten said, “As I was talking with the visitor he told me that he had been born in the 1940’s and had grown up listening to Swamp Pop music. Before he left he said being at the museum brought back so many good memories for him.”
Knighten’s son Todd said, “The Swamp Pop genre has been over looked for many years but really and truthfully more Swamp Pop records have been sold than any other Louisiana genres of music like Zydeco.”
It seems as though this genre is mostly over looked today in the very area that gave birth to it in the late 1950’s. Most of the museums visitors are people from out of town.
According to Knighten it is important for our local people to also come and visit the museum. “It is important for the people here to know the history of this music because Swamp Pop began right here in the place we call home.”
For nearly five years now Ville Platte has been the only place to offer the public a chance to discover the musical history of the Swamp Pop genre with a visit to the museum.
The museum is now preparing to celebrate their fifth anniversary on Friday, September 18. The celebration which will be held at the museum, located at 205 Railroad St., from 10 a.m. to noon is open to the public. While normally the museum charges for entry, for the anniversary celebration there will be no fee to enjoy all that the museum has to offer.
On the day of the anniversary celebration, the public can even meet Swamp Pop artist Johnnie Allan of “Lonely Days, Lonely Nights” fame, who will be attending the event.
Knighten is looking forward to the upcoming celebration. “This is just another opportunity to continue educating people on musical history that has originated right here.”