Bradford’s White Eagle
Status: Closed
Parish: St. Landry
Location: Opelousas
Rhythm and Blues club that opened late 1940s and closed in the 1980s. Ray Charles, James Brown, Lynn August, and many more touring acts played there, as well as local notables. The building still stands at 813 Blanchard Street, but at present it is boarded up.
Included in Emily Ardoin’s 2014 thesis “Fais do-do to ‘Hippy Ti-Yo’: Dance Halls of South Louisiana”: “Bradford’s White Eagle was a swamp pop and rythym and blues club in the Creole community center of Opelousas. It was opened before 1948 and the closing date is unknown. The building is vacant and appears to be in condition, although the front is boarded up. The building is of frame construction, has a cross gabled and metal roof, a stepped parapet, and has an unknown type of foundation. Appears on 1948 Sanborn map. Part of an area of Opelousas known as “The Back,” with several R&B/blues/disco clubs. Most are vacant today. “The Front” is one or two blocks away.”
Terrie Auzenne
I lived across the street from Bradford’s. The parish identified above in incorrect. It is St. Landry Parish.
John Sharp
Thanks Terrie-
There is a glitch in the website that defers to Acadia parish for lots of the clubs- I’ve contacted the web developer to try to get it fixed.
Best wishes,
John Sharp
Kevin Brantley
This was my great-grandmother club
Kevin Brantley
Great grandma club
Ivory Jane Stephens Carrier
We was thir every Saturday night, wish it was still thir,
Laurie Smith
I apologize I made a type-o and it should be Elrene Bradford.
Will Eaglin
I worked there in the years of 1968 and 1969 as a waiter,I have seen acts from Denise LaSalle to O.V.Wright, Tyrone Davis,,Sly Johnson, Mrs. Bradford were a good person, she was liked by everyone who worked for her,glad to see something of my past.Thank You!
Jeanne
My mom used to work there as a waitress. She had so many stories about the celebs she met while working there
Laurie Smith
This was my mom’s Aunts club. My mom as a girl used to walk Ray Charles to the stage for his set.
Mary Bradford Ford
My uncle VC Bradford also my Godfather, was the builder and the original owner of Bradford’s White Eagle. Ms Elrene was my aunt in law. My brother, sister and, I spent time working in the club, and witnessed such acts as Bobby Blue Bland, Nappy Brown, and other greats. My uncle was a great man and an entrepreneur of his day. He was my father’s brother. Thanks for the blast from the past.
Laurie Smith
Aunt Elrene was my grandmother’s sister. So amazing to see this article. I remember my mom talking about walking Ray Charles from the dressing room to the stage like it was yesterday. Small world.
Laurie Smith
Eilene Bradford was my great aunt, my grandmother’s sister. I can still remember the stories my mom told of escorting Ray Charles from the main house to the stage to do his set. When asked if she ever thought to get autographs, she said not, they were like family. I feel blessed to have found this information on my family’s history.
Laurie Smith
Aunt Elrene was my grandmother’s sister. So amazing to see this article. I remember my mom talking about walking Ray Charles from the dressing room to the stage like it was yesterday. Small world.