Origin: Baton Rouge, Louisiana (USA)
LE ROUX
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| Bobby Campo - Tony Haselden - Jeff Pollard - Rod Roddy - David Peters - Leon Medica |
Up - 1980 (with lyrics)
Last safe place - 1982 (with lyrics)
So fired up - 1983 (with lyrics)Notes:
- LE ROUX is a stylish melodic Rock outfit hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisana. The band's roots actually lay in the antecedent JEFF POLLARD BAND, this outfit comprising guitarists Tony Haselden and Bobby Campos, keyboard player Rod Roddy, drummer David Peters and bassist Leon Medica, a veteran of POTLIQUOR.
Going for a more Funky, Countryfied route the band took the LE ROUX title in 1976, according to a 1978 Capitol Records press release, to illustrate this blend of styles with a suitable allegory in a "Cajun French term for the thick and hearty gravy base that's used to make a gumbo". Under their guise as the JEFF POLLARD BAND, not only did the musicians build up a strong US following on the touring circuit, but due to an arrangement with the US State Department, the group also got to perform concerts in Africa. They had switched the band title to LOUISIANA'S LE ROUX, due to the existence of a LE ROUX gigging in San Francisco at the time. Producer Leon Medica scored the band a contract with Capitol Records and, still branded LOUISANA'S LE ROUX proceeded to score a significant impact with the first two albums, 1978's 'Louisiana's Le Roux', which featured guitarist Jim Odom, and 1979's 'Keep The Fire Burnin', this latter effort incorporating saxophone and trumpet.
Things changed dramatically for the recording of 1980's Jai Winding produced 'Up'. LE ROUX, having dropped the LOUISIANA prefix, came up with a powerful Melodic Rock sound that instantly won the group a host of admirers abroad upon the album's arrival into Europe on import. The band moved labels to the RCA Records camp, scoring radio hits off the Leon Medica produced 'Last Safe Place' album with 'Addicted' and 'Nobody Said It Was Easy'. In North America LE ROUX toured extensively and could count on a healthy round of gigs on bills with both Country and Metal bands. In the early 80's LE ROUX were known to have appeared on bills with the likes of VANDENBERG, BLUE OYSTER CULT, JOURNEY, LOVERBOY and even OZZY OSBOURNE. Bassist Leon Medica also recorded sessions with CHARLIE DANIELS on his 'Volunteer' release.
Following the 'Last Safe Place' album, LE ROUX were hit with the exit of vocalist/guitarist Jeff Pollard, necessitating the recruitment of a frontman for their next album. The exiting founder member apparently came to the view that "Rock music was inconsistent with his new life in Christ" and therefore exited to found New Covenant Ministries. As well as establishing a jail ministry at the Feliciana Parish Prison, the ex-singer became Pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Ball, Louisiana.
For 1983's swansong 'So Fired Up' album former TRILLION vocalist Dennis 'Fergie' Fredericksen was recruited, having just vacated the fragmenting last line-up of ANGEL. Fredericksen had also recorded a little known solo album in 1981 under the alias of DAVID LONDON. The record was only ever issued in Scandinavia it would appear. Unfortunately, whilst the 'So Fired Up' album was acknowledged as the best record the band had ever recorded it failed to make an impression at retail. Frederiksen was soon off to the ranks of TOTO for an equally brief stay. He would resurface in an alliance with ex-THE BABYS bassist (and an erstwhile ANGEL colleague) Ricky Phillips in FREDERIKSEN/PHILLIPS in the mid 90's. Post LE ROUX, Medica formed up an all star First Airborne Rock & Roll Band with Phil Ehart of KANSAS for international USO touring.
Both David Peters and Jim Odom would found NETWORK in alliance with former KANSAS backing vocalist TERRY BROCK. The singer would later join the STEVE MORSE BAND. Odom and Peters made a return much later touting ABSOLOUTE ZERO- an alliance with ROKBOX members vocalist/Guitarist Marc Engeran and keyboard player Randy Setton for the 'Never Surrender' album. Lead vocals came courtesy of Chris Roberts whilst bass was in the hands of David Campo.
LE ROUX bounced back with the album 'Ain't Nothing But A Gris Gris', recorded at Mardi Gras 1999 at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana. Line-up for this outing comprised Randy Knaps on lead vocals, guitarists Tony Haselden and Jim Odom, bassist Leon Medica , keyboard players Nelson Blanchard and Rod Roddy with Boo Pourciau on the drums. -
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