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History of prohibition and bootlegging in La.; how one pianist connects cajun and classical music

New Orleans: In a saloon on Decatur Street, 1938. Roughly 5 years after prohibition was repealed.
Russell Lee
/
Wikimedia Commons
New Orleans: In a saloon on Decatur Street, 1938. Roughly 5 years after prohibition was repealed.

Over 100 years ago this month, Congress approved the act that would soon make prohibition the law of the land. While some Louisianans supported the so-called “noble experiment,” most were unhappy with the idea. Not only has the state long been home to carnival celebrations where alcohol plays a prominent role, but the location of New Orleans and Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River made them important port cities for alcohol shipping and distribution.

Sam Hyde, professor of history and director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University, joins us for more on the history of prohibition, bootlegging and speakeasies in Louisiana.

When you think of cajun music, you might think of an accordion, a fiddle or even a washboard. But some musicians have discovered a relationship between cajun and classical genres, and are incorporating that into their work.

Mary Grace Ellerbee is a pianist from Zachary, La. and the inaugural recipient of the Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity award from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. She joins us to discuss the cajun and classical crossovers in her latest work, “Quatre Chansons Cadiennes.”

Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12 and 7 pm. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Adam is responsible for coordinating WRKF's programming and making sure everything you hear on the radio runs smoothly. He is Newscast Editor for the WRKF/WWNO Newsroom. Adam is also the Baton Rouge-based host for Louisiana Considered, our daily regional news program, and is frequently the local voice afternoons on All Things Considered.
Alana Schreiber is the managing producer for the live daily news program, Louisiana Considered. She comes to WWNO from KUNC in Northern Colorado, where she worked as a radio producer for the daily news magazine, Colorado Edition. She has previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul.