All these things

I've been a DJ in one form or another since the late 80's. Some of it was on the radio. Some of it in dance halls, bars, churches, and banquet rooms from Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast. I've always been fascinated by the challenge of keeping the music going and the people on the dance floor. 

I've learned that people in South Louisiana will stay out there and dance to just about anything you play. 

Two songs that are guaranteed to fill the floor down here are Ronnie Milsap's "The Freeze," and "All These Things," by Joe Stampley and the Uniques. 

The people here not only love Milsap's 1980 B-single.  They LINE DANCE to it. 

Down in Louisiana, this is common knowledge. Anywhere else, it's a strange phenomenon. 

"All these things," has been cut, re-cut, sped up, and so on; but the origin remains a popular slow dance. 

I can't leave out my amazement that, for all Clarence Carter accomplished as a musician ("Patches" and "Slip Away"), he'll be best known for the vulgar dance tune "Strokin'."

The iconic all night diner

KD's Diner is iconic in Southwest Louisiana. Most towns have a Waffle House or even a Pitt Grill. Lake Charles has those too but KD's is unique. One of those mom & pop 24 hour joints. The bar crowds frequent it. The old men with their coffee come to talk politics at 6:30 a.m.  The hippies and the cowboys actually get along in here over coffee, waffles, or skirt steak. 

I prefer the grilled shrimp po boys. When I order to go, I play the game of "how many beers can you drink while they make your sandwich."  My record is 4. Tonight, I didn't feel like playing, so I only had the one. 

KD's Diner reminds me of the old truckstop from my hometown. Juanita's never closed. It was everything a greasy spoon, choke & puke, cafe should be. Except for the beer. De Kalb remains dry to this day. Instead of guzzling games, my cohorts and I would pick the most annoying songs on the jukebox and play them over and over. 

Juanita's is gone now. KD's just re-opened after a fire and will probably be open forever.