Albums

D.L. Menard

“The Cajun Hank Williams”

Quick Intro

D.L. Menard—born Doris Leon Menard in Erath, Louisiana (1932–2017)—was a globally celebrated Cajun singer-songwriter and guitarist whose career spanned more than six decades. Known for his signature blend of Cajun rhythm and honky-tonk storytelling, he earned the nickname “The Cajun Hank Williams” and became one of the most recognized ambassadors of Louisiana French music worldwide.

In-Depth Profile

Menard began performing in the 1950s, inspired by Hank Williams and the dancehall culture of Vermilion Parish. His breakout hit, “La Porte d’en Arrière” (“The Back Door”), released on Swallow Records in 1962, became the most recorded Cajun song of all time, selling over 500,000 copies and earning international acclaim.

His guitar style—marked by rhythmic upstrokes and syncopated bass runs—became known as the “D.L. Menard strum,” influencing generations of Cajun musicians. He toured extensively across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, performing at Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the Newport Folk Festival. Menard’s music was featured in documentaries, academic studies, and cultural diplomacy programs.

Beyond music, Menard was a master craftsman, known for building ash-wood rocking chairs by hand. He often demonstrated chairmaking at festivals, embodying the Cajun values of artistry, humility, and heritage. His storytelling—both lyrical and personal—preserved the humor, hardship, and resilience of rural Louisiana life.

Menard recorded with Swallow, Rounder, Arhoolie, and other labels, often collaborating with Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy, and Eddie LeJeune. His Grammy-nominated albums helped bring Cajun music to new audiences while staying true to its roots. He remained active well into his 80s, performing and mentoring younger artists until his passing in 2017.

Signature Tracks

  • “La Porte d’en Arrière” — his iconic 1962 hit on Swallow Records, modeled after Hank Williams’ “Honky Tonk Blues”

  • She Didn’t Know I Was Married — A wry, emotionally layered standout that became a regional favorite for its storytelling and vocal delivery.

  • Bachelor’s Life — A rollicking anthem of independence and Cajun swagger, often cited as a defining track in the artist’s catalog.

Notable Accomplishments & Awards

  • National Heritage Fellowship — 1994, awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts

  • Grammy Nominee — 1993, for Le Trio Cadien (Rounder Records)

  • Grammy Nominee — 2010, for Happy Go Lucky (Swallow Records)

  • Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Inductee — 2009

  • Cajun Music Hall of Fame Inductee — honored for lifetime contributions

  • Featured in Smithsonian Folkways recordings and documentaries

  • Performed at Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, and Festival of American Folklife

  • Multiple CFMA honors and festival tributes throughout his career

Bonus Notes

  • Menard’s handmade rocking chairs—crafted from ash and cane—are considered folk art treasures and have been exhibited at cultural festivals

  • He was fluent in Cajun French and often served as a cultural ambassador, performing for international audiences and representing Louisiana abroad

Album Reviews

Happy Go Lucky
The BluesRag — Written by Dennis Rozanski

“From the pointed tips of his cowboy boots and curved shoulders of his acoustic guitar up to that warble emanating from his throat, the great D.L. Menard owns up to every inch of his given title.”

From the pointed tips of his cowboy boots and curved shoulders of his acoustic guitar up to that warble emanating from his throat, the great D.L. Menard owns up to every inch of his given title as the “Cajun Hank Williams.” Even simply based on 1962’s anthem, “The Back Door,” alone, his place would be cemented in Acadian legend. And in American roots history too (validated by the National Heritage Foundation Award sitting on his mantle). At 78, he’s yet to hang up that patented voice, still crooning, cawing, and crowning out nasal French like it’s those dancehall days all over. And he remains a songwriting machine, recently scrawling down these 12 tales teetering from Saturday night frolics to stone-cold mortality. The circle of homegrown musicians gravitating around him imparts a prevailing melodic grace to Happy Go Lucky, even when stoking up a honky-tonk hop. So while “The Little Cajun Musician” kicks up its heels with a slide duel between Terry Huval’s steel and Sonny Landreth’s electric guitar, “It’s the Place I’m Going to Stay” prefers a gently winding waltz. Menard even breaks out comedic shtick on “A Bachelor’s Life” finale.

Happy Go Lucky
Jukebox Blues — Written by Paul Harris (Issue #71)

“Where do I start? There are no tracks that stand out because they are all outstanding.”

This is more like it! Pure Cajun music throughout with all songs written by Doris Leon Menard, the man with the nasal Cajun voice and the excellent rhythm guitar skills. He is accompanied by top musicians including Sonny Landreth guesting on slide guitar on two numbers.

Where do I start? There are no tracks that stand out because they are all outstanding. There are five wonderful Cajun waltzes taken at various speeds. “C’est la place que je vas rester” is about arrival in Paradise; “Il etait comme un frere” is a heartrending story about a friend killed in an accident; “Un mauvaise barguine” tells of a wife leaving for another man, then realizing it was a mistake but being too ashamed to return home and ‘”Une Bamboche” tells of a drunk who cannot even remember where he lives. Best of all is the contemplative “Les portraits sur le plafonage.”

The seven remaining tracks similarly cover tales of life and death in Cajun communities and are all of high quality. “Les herbes parait plus vert” warns that the grass is not always greener on the other side while the while the closing “La vie d’un vieux garcon” tells the story of a happy bachelor. This Is followed by a short interview with D.L.

Age is no barrier for Monsieur Menard as he continues to produce uplifting and outstanding performances He has long been my favorite Cajun artist and this superb album fully justifies my choice.

Happy Go Lucky
KMVR Radio — Written by Dale “LeBlanc” Johnson

“This winner of the National Heritage Foundation Award in 1994 is a songwriter’s songwriter, who has had a lot of life to tell stories about.”

D.L. Menard has been a “legend in his own time” for many years now. This new release is performed by the 78-year-old “Cajun Hank Williams” with members of Terry Huval’s “Jambalaya Cajun Band.” Also joining in are Sonny Landreth (electric slide guitar), Beau Thomas (fiddle), and Al Berard (fiddle and guitar). As always he writes all of his own songs. This winner of the National Heritage Foundation Award in 1994 is a songwriter’s songwriter, who has had a lot of life to tell stories about.

This CD will grow on you if you read the English lyric translations and are able to understand his stories sung in Cajun French. Good examples of this are “Crazy People of the Country,” “It’s the Place I’m Going to Stay” (about not just going to Heaven but ‘staying’ there) and “The Pictures on the Wall” (most likely about the ones his deceased wife placed there). The pretty song “The Light in the Graveyard” is about a rare spiritual experience. In “The Town of Erath” (the place where he has always lived and had his chair factory) he tells about a small town of very friendly Cajuns. The closer, and source of the album’s title, reflects his early carefree “A Bachelor’s Life.”