Larry Brasso born 28 January 1936

Larry Brasso ( January 28, 1936 – August 26, 1984) was a Country and Cajun vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who fronted his own band, Larry Brasso & The Rhythmaires.

Brasso was actually born James Larry Brasseaux in the tiny town of Henry (Vermillion Parish), just outside of Abbeville.  By age 10, he was playing guitar and by 13, he was forming his first band. As he got older, he began playing in local clubs in south Louisiana and then they headed to Texas to spread their country music for some three years. In 1963, he was back in Louisiana to start his first venture into television, producing his own Saturday afternoon “Larry Brasso Show,” which was eventually syndicated into 10 CBS TV markets all around the state. The music show included not just country, but Cajun and French music as well. 

Unlike in today’s world, with everyone knowing how to pronounce “Geaux,” obviously, his television producer suggested he change the end of his last name from ’eaux’ to ‘o.’ He grew up speaking French and already sang French songs as a young boy. He was just as comfortable singing in English but always with a Louisiana tilt. He also formed the “Larry Brasso and the Rhythmaires” band, which he led for nearly 30 years. Later on, it included his son Keith Brasseaux.

                                    

The band toured solo, as well as opening for some major country acts, one of which was Loretta Lynn. He was not quite 30 years old when he recorded his first record on Lafayette-based La Louisiane labeI in 1965 with “Just around the Corner from the Blues” and “You’re only in Love.”  A year later in 1966, Baton Rouge record producer S.J. Montalbano a.k.a. “Sam Montel” brought Brasso into his recording studio, for first of three records and an album. His first 45 rpm release was a pair of cover songs, “Gonna Find Me Someone To Love” and “Big Mistake.” 

It was released on the ‘Montel-Michelle’ label. He followed that up in July of 1966 with his classic “These Empty Arms,” written by Johnny Troy, who also wrote two other songs for Brasso. The flip-side was “I Just Can’t Live (If you’re Really Gone).”  Then in late October of 1966, Montel released a 12-track LP by Brasso entitled, ‘Country Music Louisiana Style.’ One of the tracks included his version of “One More Glass Of Wine,” written by Abbeville native Robert Guidry, better known as “Bobby Charles.” 

Montel released Brasso’s cover on a single in late April of 1967, with “Big City” on the flip side. Later in 1967, Brasso made two recordings at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio in New Orleans and released on his ‘White Cliffs’ label. In 1969, he had his first self-written songs recorded and released on both the Nashville-based ‘One-Way’ label, as well as the Cincinnati-based ‘King’ label, with “Wait for the Heartache” and “You’re Going to Get What’s Coming for You.”  He also had another released on ‘One-Way,’ which was pressed at the Ville Platte plant.   

In the 1970’s, he had four releases on Floyd Soileau’s Ville Platte-based ‘Jin’ label.  Brasso had his own TV show on KADN Channel 15 in Lafayette in the early 1980’s.  Brasso continued to perform up until his death, which was by a heart attack in Henry, Louisiana, on August 26, 1984, He was just 48……His son  Keith, who died in 2007, was just 47 and his son, Larry Brasseaux Jr. died at the age of 36. 

(Edited from Louisiana Jukebox Café & Discogs)