When Hollywood calls we answer. It seems Donaldsonville has what Hollywood needs. Our Historic District serves as a strong visual to entice production companies with its unique buildings and homes.

Donaldsonville is being eyed by two productions. A remake of “Bonnie and Clyde” is looking at the old gas station on Railroad Avenue, while “The Great Debaters,” a movie directed by Denzel Washington, likes Donaldsonville’s historic appeal for a 1935 era movie about an all black debate team. The scouts were sold on the courthouse.

The production done on location is a small piece of the process, however can become a large piece of the pie for Donaldsonville. Most companies spend about fourteen to seventeen weeks on location. Companies are finding it cheaper to leave Hollywood and head south. The Louisiana tax incentives also factor in.

“All The King’s Men,” starring Sean Penn and Jude Law will be out in the theaters this month. You will recognize scenes shot on Railroad Avenue.

The Chamber office has been busy answering the Hollywood calls. They have been approached by a small production company wanting to shoot “When the World Was Green.” Possible upcoming movies to be shot in Donaldsonville are “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Inherit the Wind,” and another series of “Revenge of the Nerds.”

With Donaldsonville in its bicentennial year celebrating its 200th birthday, the Sunshine Festival is presenting a musical reunion review of local musicians Saturday and Sunday. These guys grew up listening to the big bands at the Town and Country Club.

Saturday night’s entertainment, ONE NITE ONLY, features D’ville native Terry Cassard. Terry’s first memories were at five year’s old on Opelousas Street. His neighbor was Cyril Vetter. Cyril was a member of THE GREEK FOUNTAINS.

Terry did manage to become a member of a band with Stanley Rome, Leonard Capello, and Jeff Millien. The Smoke Bend based band, SUNFINCH, performed at the teen dances at the Town and Country Club.

Terry’s hair is still long and has turned completely gray. He has joined with guys from Napoleonville and Plaquemine who play music as their hobby.

ONE NITE ONLY will be performing Saturday night at 7:00PM. The band will play a combination of classic rock, country, and alternative music with Terry on the guitar and vocals.

ANTHONY, RAY, AND STEVE, open the Sunday Musical Reunion Review at 2:00PM. All three are self-taught musicians. Anthony began in high school playing with Kirk Landry. In the l970’s he saw Jody Smith perform at David’s Lounge and became hooked on country music. His one man band performed on Belle River on the “Captain Ridley”, at Hoot Owls Lounge, and at one of the earlier Sunshine Festivals along with many local spots.

“I grew up around music. My brother, Ron, was a well known session drummer and recording engineer. My first exposure to music was a 45 single my brother owned by Little Richard called “Keep a Knocking.” I was maybe six or seven years old at the time but I loved the song. At ten years old I saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and from that point on I knew I wanted to be a musician,” states Ray Capone.

With an acoustic guitar from Sears at fifteen, he taught himself how to play at sixteen. From that point on it’s been rock-n-roll. In the seventies Ray and his cousin Stanley Rome were involved in a band called SUNFINCH. While in college he met Kirk Landry and Anthony Marcello. Together the refined their skills and formed THE NIGHTFLIERS, performing mostly originals written by Kirk Landry. Ray became a DICK NIXON for awhile, and then continued to join Kirk in RUN TELL OTIS, playing locally at clubs and festivals.

As this band was starting to fold, a night out at Beck’s brought him to BOCO AND THE LATOUR BOYS. “I grew up watching George, Joe, and Boco playing music in a band called THE FIFTH AUTUMN,” says Ray. After that night Ray became another LaTour Boy.

On weekends you can find Anthony, Ray, and Steve sitting in the front window of The Grapevine. Actually you can find Steve at The Grapevine pretty much 24/7. He and his bride, Cynthia, have become Donaldsonville residents. Steve found his way from Lafayette (I think Cynthia had a lot to do with it.) Since his arrival, he has become a husband and owner of an art gallery located next door to The Grapevine. He has since joined Anthony and Ray by sitting in with his mandolin. Together, the Schneider’s, have managed to provide Downtown Donaldsonville with great food, great music, and a true appreciation for the arts.

THE AVENUE CRUISERS begin their show at 5:00PM Sunday. Sister and brother, Boco and George Later began their musical careers as founding members (along with brother Joe, sister Sue, C.J. Bonadona, and Virgil Joffrion) of THE FIFTH AUTUMN, a band which started in Donaldsonville in the mid 1960’s. THE FIFTH AUTUMN got to be very well known, playing all over Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi and even spending several weeks playing in Aspen, Colorado. This was really a big deal at the time. Donaldsonville had very few rock and roll bands. From there George and Boco went on to form COCODRIS, a band specializing in original material. COCODRIS had a wide following in Baton Rouge and south Louisiana, recording a cover version of the Elvis song, “Crawfish.” This recording is presently being featured on the popular website, “Home of the Groove, “ a site dedicated to New Orleans and Louisiana music. After COCODRIS George played several years with TRILOGY, a popular Baton Rouge dance band. Boco went on to play with several bands and did a lot of recording, becoming one of Baton Rouge’s musical icons.

Both Boco and George got out of music for a while to raise their families, however around the mid nineties the groove once again came calling. They started jamming with brother Joe, a former FIFTH AUTUMN bass player and singer. A new generation of Latours’ joined in. Boco’s son Zach and George’s two sons, Brandon and Tim began performing at family reunions and family parties. This eventually led to “getting the band back together on a mission from God” to form BOCO AND THE LATOUR BOYS.

This group began playing public venues joined in this “mission” by drummer Glenn Sotile, son of Mitch Sotile. Unfortunately brother Joe passed away in 2004 which knocked the band for a loop and shut things down for a while. The groove again won out and Boco, George, Glenn, along with Ray Capone, Stan Rome, and Anthony Marcello are back rocking as THE AVENUE CRUISERS.

Drummer Glenn Sotile has been playing music since he was seventeen. The majority of that time has been with his father Mitch. Long ago MITCH AND THE WIDETRACKS performed. Now known as MITCH AND THE ORIGINALS, Glenn stills sits in as drummer. “I always like to play in Donaldsonville, for the home folks. Music is my “outlet.” And it is especially gratifying when friends enjoy your music. So I am very much looking forward to this opportunity to entertain the folks of D’ville,” says Glenn.

His dad, Bud Rome, taught Stanley how to play a harmonica when he was six years old. His grandmother, Beulah Rome, taught him the piano at ten. His dad and brother, Lester, taught him the guitar when he was twelve. From there he learned the clarinet and trombone under the direction of Tom Jack Nizzo.

One day his Smoke Bend neighbor, Terry Cassard, came to his house wanting to start a band. His friend from school, Leonard Capello, played guitar and Terry played drums. Claude Falcon on the guitar later dropped out to be replaced with Jeffery Millien on keyboard. This band began as THE CHURCHYARDS because they practiced at the Smoke Bend Church hall. Looking for a better name, Terry’s brother, David, the Lone Wolf, came up with SUNFINCH.

In the late 70’s Stanley joined NATION, a Thibodaux based group. They were a big horn group that played al lot of Chicago and Tower of Power type music. They were also the band that backed PERCY SLEDGE when he played in New Orleans or the Thibodaux/Houma area.

After the last tour with Percy in Jamaica, Stanley saw C.J. Bonadona in church. They needed a bass player for his band TRILOGY. He played for TRILOGY for eight years later taking time out for his family.

“My music career has brought about many friendships. There are none better than fellow musicians. I have had the opportunity to spot gig with many bands. But, since the time that I started playing and still til this day, the best spot gigs I have been asked to sit in for have been with MITCH SOTILE AND THE ORIGINALS. I have never been a permanent player in his group, but he has always called me to sit in whenever I didn’t have a job with any other groups. Mitch sold me my first bass amp when I started at the age of fourteen and it’s still in my attic. I will never sell it,” says Stanley.

After the death of Joe LaTour, Stanley was asked to join The LaTours. He feels he has been honored to carry on Joe’s spirit and legacy of music with his bass guitar.

The Sunshine Festival entertainment chair is Vera Sanchez. This is Vera’s first year in organizing the entertainment for the festival. We encourage everyone to come out to the festival to support on local musicians. These guys love what they do and are truly excited to perform for their home town.

Nestled off the courtyard at the St. Ann Marie Antoinette Hotel is Claire’s on Conti. One would not know you are only half a block from Bourbon Street. At Claire’s you might visit with the locals like Humphrey Bogart’s mistress, Verita, or meet a psychologist from Hawaii in for a convention. Claire’s on Conti is opened seven days a week. You can email her at clairesbaronconti@yahoo.com or call 504-200-3130.

DESCRIBE YOUR DONALDSONVILLE ROOTS?

I moved to Donaldsonville with my parents, Bob and Carolyn Hartley, in 1968. My dad was employed with General Mud. My sister and brother, Kay and Wyatt, and I graduated from Ascension Catholic High School.

AFTER YOU LEFT DONALDSONVILLE, WHERE DID THE ROADS TAKE YOU?

I attended one semester of college at Nicholls State University, one semester at UNO, and one semester in Lafayette. In Lafayette I met and married a guy from Kuwait. Moving to Kuwait was culture shock. A coonass doesn’t belong in the Middle East.

WHAT WAS A MAJOR ADJUSTMENT LIVING IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

After the Gulf War the people were grateful to the Americans being there. Then things started to change. One downside was no alcohol. I had to make my own wine and I couldn’t keep up with the supply and demand. I would come home to visit three times at year staying two months at a time. I would smuggle in Everclear and fruit cocktail. I would wrap it up like a gift. If you drain the juice and drink it then eat the fruit, it would work.

WHEN DID YOU BECOME A FRENCH QUARTER GIRL?

In 1994 I left Kuwait and my husband. I started working at Touche’s, the bar at the Omni Orleans on Royal Street. After a few years I left there and began working for Gennifer Flowers, Bill Clinton’s ex-mistress, on St. Louis. From there I had the opportunity to have my own place.

WHY THE FRENCH QUARTER?

After Kuwait the French Quarter is God’s country. Plus it was a “booze fest” after being dry in the Middle East…..and not the desert.

HOW HAS KATRINA AFFECTED THE QUARTER?

There are so many businesses closing. The tourist market hasn’t returned. People think the Quarter had water also. Another thing is there aren’t as many places for people to live so it’s hard to find employees. I opened my bar in April 2003. The business had finally evolved where it could maintain itself. Then Katrina. Now the French Quarter residents band together and we have a Pot Luck Pool Party every other Saturday at businesses or residences. We have to stick together to survive.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RETURN AND TO REBUILD THE CITY?

The city leaders need a plan. It seems there isn’t some bigger or higher power with a plan. We are here fending for ourselves. The leaders need to come up to the plate and get the city back. Get the word out that there are available flights and accommodations. Get rid of the “there’s nothing left mentality” and let the people know the French Quarter was not affected.

DESCRIBE LIFE IN THE QUARTER.

It’ God’s country. It is like a village or a small town. Everybody walks, everybody knows your name. I even have tourists that come two or three times a year to visit the Quarter and see me. It’s a lot like living in Donaldsonville. That small town feel keeps me from moving away. The French Quarter has its own charm along with the clientele. My bar is a safe haven from Bourbon Street.

Chamber member, First Baptist Church of Donaldsonville, will host the Children’s Tent Saturday from 3:00PM until 5:00pm at this year’s Sunshine Festival. Amy Brennor will do face painting for the children.

A Hula Hoop contest will take place at 3:00PM. Awards will be given out. Following the contest the youth leaders of the church will perform skits which include music and dancing.

Crafts such as jewelry making will also entertain the children. Rachael Wells and Tammy Dale along with Bradley Lewis and Chris Chauvin will oversee this activity tent for the children.

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