Swamp Pop legend and Acadiana treasure, Rod Bernard has passed away at the age of 79.
The news broke Sunday evening with a Facebook post by Rod’s son, Shane K. Bernard.
Dad died today in New Iberia after a short (non-COVID) illness.
Posted by Shane K. Bernard on Sunday, July 12, 2020
Rod Bernard was a pioneer of “Swamp Pop” music, which combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues, country and western, and Cajun and black Creole music. Bernard and his group recorded the ballad “This Should Go On Forever” for recordman Floyd Soileau’s Jin label of Ville Platte, Louisiana. Leased to Argo Records of Chicago, the song became a national hit in 1959, propelling Bernard onto Dick Clark‘s American Bandstand, The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show, and The Alan Freed Show, as well as onto tours with Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry, and B. B. King, among others.
Rod Bernard was also staple in Acadiana media both working in radio and television.
More information and proper tribute to come…
