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Rod Bernard

 


Rod Bernard | 1959 photo: Wikipedia | tc164

Singer, Advertising salesman and Disc Jockey Rodney Ronald Louis “Rod” Bernard was born in Opelousas, Louisiana, on August 12, 1940 and is a pioneer of southern “swamp rock” music. He is considered one of the foremost musicians of the genre, with Bobby Charles and Johnnie Allan. His best known Chess release is “This should go on for ever” which was recorded in 1958 and leased to Chess for release on the Argo label; it was released in the UK on the London American label. From 1962 to 1968 he served as a US Reserve Marine, reaching Sergeant. 

For many years he worked on radio as a disc jockey - he landed his first radio job aged just 10 - featuring on radio station KSLO, and became programme director at KVOL in Lafayette. In 1970 he moved into television, working as an advertising salesman and also on screen personality at KLFY-TV-10. Also in the 1970s he released two albums, one which co-starred Clifton Chenier. He retired in 2018.

Rod Bernard died on 12 July 2020.

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