Clarence Garlow
| Clarence Garlow | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Clarence Joseph Garlow |
| Also known as | Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow |
| Born |
February 27, 1911 Welsh, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Died | July 24, 1986 (aged 75) Beaumont, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, jump blues, Texas blues, cajun |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, accordion, vocals |
| Years active | Late 1940s–early 1960s (music) |
| Labels | Various including Aladdin and Flair |
Clarence Garlow (February 27, 1911 – July 24, 1986) was an American R&B, jump blues, Texas blues and cajun guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his recording of the song "Bon Ton Roula", which was a hit single on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1950. One commentator noted the track as, "a rhythm and blues laced-zydeco song that helped introduce the Louisiana music form to a national audience."
He was born Clarence Joseph Garlow in Welsh, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States, although he relocated to Beaumont, Texas with his family whilst still a child. After learning the rudiments of fiddle playing as a youngster, in his teenage years Garlow learned to play both the guitar and accordion. His guitar playing was influenced by T-Bone Walker. Initially working in several factories, Garlow first recorded for the small record label, Macy's in Houston, Texas, in 1949. His debut release was "She's So Fine" b/w "Blues As You Like It", issued in January 1950.
For the follow-up, Garlow recorded his own song "Bon Ton Roula", as a sixteen-bar blues with "an insistent, swirling rhumba rhythm". "The song featured some of the same kind of broken Cajun-isms as Hank Williams's "Jambalaya". It became a hit in 1950, reaching #7 in the US Billboard R&B chart. The success of the single led to Garlow touring Texas and Louisiana. Feature Records then released another version of his hit titled "New Bon Ton Roula". Lyric Records issued two further singles in 1951, but none charted. The following year, Garlow opened the Bon Ton Drive-In in Beaumont. Relocating to Los Angeles, California, Garlow recorded his third version of "Bon Ton Roula", which was issued by Aladdin Records as "New Bon-Ton Roulay" in April 1953.
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