Cookie and the Cupcakes
Encyclopedia
Cookie and the Cupcakes are an American
swamp pop
band from south Louisiana
, best known for their 1959 hit "Mathilda".
The band originally started as The Boogie Ramblers, led by Shelton Dunaway. Huey "Cookie" Thierry (1936-1997) joined the band in 1952, and shared lead vocals and tenor sax with Dunaway. Other original members were Sidney "Hot Rod" Reynaud (tenor sax), Marshall Laday (or LeDee) (guitar), Ernest Jacobs (piano), Joe "Blue" Landry (bass) and Ivory Jackson (drums). The band was based in Lake Charles, Louisiana
.
. They became a popular regional live act, and toured with big names like Jerry Lee Lewis
and Fats Domino
. In 1956, Cookie began being the band's front man and the name of the band was changed to "Cookie and the Boogie Ramblers." Soon after, the band was changed to its final name after hearing it shouted in jest from an audience. In 1957, they recorded their signature song 'Mathilda' for Judd Records
. After initial struggles to get the song recorded they were able to use KAOK
's studio. The record rose to #47 on the Billboard pop chart in early 1959, and is regarded as the unofficial anthem of the swamp pop genre. They followed up with a number of highly regarded but less commercially successful singles in the early 1960s, including "Belinda", "Betty and Dupree", and "Got You on My Mind", the latter reached The Billboards Hot 100 in May 1963.
In August of 1965, Thierry moved to Los Angeles, leaving the Cupcakes to continue without him. Cookie was replaced as lead singer by "Little Alfred" (or "Lil' Alfred") Babino (January 5, 1944, Lake Charles – November 14, 2006). With Ernest Jacobs as bandleader, the group continued for several years but dispersed in the early 1970s.
Thierry was rediscovered in the 1990s and played at occasional blues festivals, reunited with the rest of the band, until his death in 1997. Thereafter, the band, led by Lil' Alfred, continued to perform at clubs in Louisiana and southeast Texas. Babino died at his residence in Lake Charles, in 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swamp pop
Swamp pop
Swamp rock is a musical genre indigenous to the Acadiana region of south Louisiana and an adjoining section of southeast Texas. Created in the 1950s and early 1960s by teenaged Cajuns and black Creoles, it combines New Orleans-style rhythm and blues, country and western, and traditional French...
band from south Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, best known for their 1959 hit "Mathilda".
The band originally started as The Boogie Ramblers, led by Shelton Dunaway. Huey "Cookie" Thierry (1936-1997) joined the band in 1952, and shared lead vocals and tenor sax with Dunaway. Other original members were Sidney "Hot Rod" Reynaud (tenor sax), Marshall Laday (or LeDee) (guitar), Ernest Jacobs (piano), Joe "Blue" Landry (bass) and Ivory Jackson (drums). The band was based in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
.
History
They started playing in 1953 as the house band at the Moulin Rouge Club in Lake Charles, LA. In 1955, the Boogie Ramblers released "Cindy Lou" and "Such As Love" on Goldband RecordsGoldband Records
Goldband Records is an American record company based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, founded in 1945 and best known for its Cajun and R&B recordings in the 1950s and 1960s....
. They became a popular regional live act, and toured with big names like Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
. In 1956, Cookie began being the band's front man and the name of the band was changed to "Cookie and the Boogie Ramblers." Soon after, the band was changed to its final name after hearing it shouted in jest from an audience. In 1957, they recorded their signature song 'Mathilda' for Judd Records
Judd Records
Judd Records was started by Jud Phillips, brother of Sun Records co-founder Sam Phillips. Early releases were mostly recorded in Nashville or Memphis, but carried an address of Memphis, New York and Florence...
. After initial struggles to get the song recorded they were able to use KAOK
KAOK
KAOK is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA, the station serves the Lake Charles area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media and features programing from ABC Radio , ESPN Radio and Premiere Radio Networks....
's studio. The record rose to #47 on the Billboard pop chart in early 1959, and is regarded as the unofficial anthem of the swamp pop genre. They followed up with a number of highly regarded but less commercially successful singles in the early 1960s, including "Belinda", "Betty and Dupree", and "Got You on My Mind", the latter reached The Billboards Hot 100 in May 1963.
In August of 1965, Thierry moved to Los Angeles, leaving the Cupcakes to continue without him. Cookie was replaced as lead singer by "Little Alfred" (or "Lil' Alfred") Babino (January 5, 1944, Lake Charles – November 14, 2006). With Ernest Jacobs as bandleader, the group continued for several years but dispersed in the early 1970s.
Thierry was rediscovered in the 1990s and played at occasional blues festivals, reunited with the rest of the band, until his death in 1997. Thereafter, the band, led by Lil' Alfred, continued to perform at clubs in Louisiana and southeast Texas. Babino died at his residence in Lake Charles, in 2006.