Carousel
Status: Closed
Parish: West Baton Rouge
Location: Port Allen
Alton Dupuy: It was on 190 East going towards Baton Rouge- on the right just before the old bridge. I hung out there a little while I was at LSU- maybe around 1953. There was a big gambling room on the right side- they said it was closed after gambling became illegal. I think it was still operating though- it had a strange speakeasy feel to it- it was for known high rollers who had serious money to play with. People said that Fats Domino played there back in the day. It was a R&B type place- maybe some rockabilly type stuff. Whatever came before Elvis. I never saw a band there- it was always a jukebox playing in the corner.
Bob Garrett
Across Hwy 190 from Carousel was The Belvedere Club that had a band almost every night that played the music of the early 50s. Lots of Saxophones and brass. Super dance music. We used to go there on Saturday night, and stay until they closed about 4AM. This was 1953-54 while at LSU. Wonderful memories! I would love to find some recordings of that type of music if anybody may know a source.
Kerry
There was a hard rock band that played there in 1972 late at night
Kerry Amacker
Floyd brown. He would do guitar solos
Neil
I spent most of my freshman and sophomore years at LSU once a week in this ‘dance hall’! I am trying to recall the band that played (we had them at our Frat Hse), 1960 61 and 62! Leader was an organist!
Keith
When did they blow up the bandstand?
JDS Hempire Organics
It was Brown Sugar and the lead singer was FANTASTIC.
Don
I saw the B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland show at the Carousel Club summer of 1973 (maybe 74). One of the best shows of my life. Talk about down home blues! Growing up in Baton Rouge Carousel catered to a mixed audience and advertised on both black and white radio stations. Percy Sledge and Slim Harpo were regulars. But on the evening of the big BB & Bobby show, the patrons were black. A man at the next table turned to me and asked, y’all like the blues? I replied that I LOVED the blues. Next thing we knew is a set-up arrived at our table (a bottle of whiskey, ice & glasses). We immediately did the same for his party. The man laughed and said they already have a set-up. Y’all gonna need more than that one set up, I inquired. From that point it was party on. The set-ups kept coming as Bobby and BB played into the wee hours of the night. It was one of the most awesome experiences of my life.
Kerry Amacker
Kerrytucson2011@hotmail.com
JDS Hempire Organics
I WORKED THAT NIGHT, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE…I BROUGHT PERCY HOME THAT NIGHT.SLIM HARPO, LAYTON ALFORD AND I WENT TO THE WHITE LIGHTING (AFRICAN-AMERICAN HONKY TONK) THE NEXT NIGHT AND THIS GUY THREATEN LAYTON AND SLIM PULLED OUT A KNIFE WHIT WHAT HAD TO BE A 9″ BLADE AND SAID HE’D CUT ANY “M..F.. THAT LAID A FINGER ON “HIS WHITE FRIENDS”. SLIM WAS THE GUY THAT TAUGHT MANYPEOPLE THE GUITAR, ESPECIALLY B.B. KING.
Don Glynn
Anyone remember Jow Valentine playing there in the 60s?
J. David Silvio
how about Cookie & the Cupcakes anyone..
JDS Hempire Organics
PLAYED FOR KELLY SHAW AND MY UNCLE VICTOR SILVIO.