a day ago
- Entertainment
- American Press
DeRidder band to take final bow after 25 years
After 25 years of entertaining Southwest Louisiana, the swing band Beauregard's Courtesy will give its final performance at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, in the Wooten Theatre in DeRidder.
Admission is free.
Four guest vocalists will be making their return to the band for the final performance — Missy Dear, Leah Thompson, Tonia Cooley and Ericka Anderson.
'It has been a pleasure and a privilege to play with the members of Beauregard's Courtesy,' Ron Roberts said.
The band was founded by Roberts and was named Beauregard's Courtesy after General Pierre Gustav Tousant Beauregard. According to Roberts, the night before Beauregard fired on Fort Sumter — which began the Civil War — he sent a supply of brandy and cigars to the Union officers commanding Fort Sumter.
This is referred to as Beauregard's Courtesy.
'We named the band Beauregard's Courtesy because we play most of our performances without compensation — a 'courtesy,' ' Roberts said.
The band played their first show on New Year's E ve 1999. Since then they have played everywhere from the Wooten Theatre to the Golden Nugget. They have also spread joy with their music at wedding receptions, Christmas parties, charity events and more.
Roberts said the band has played more than 400 performances since 1999.
The band started the Sundown Concert Series in DeRidder and also the Summer Concert Series. The band also started the Fourth of July Spectacular in DeRidder.
'They have done a fantastic job keeping that going but the first four years of the spectacular we were the band,' he said.
The band has lost and gained members throughout the last two and a half decades but the heart of Beauregard's Courte sy has remained the same.
Roberts spoke on the beauty of the bond between the members. He said he wishes there were more groups in the community like their's.
'When we come together for practice, we make music and we don't disagree and everyone will tell you practice is much more fun than playing,' he said.
On the band coming to an end Roberts said, 'it's just time.'
'If we will all put a little more joy into life than we take out of it, this will be a better world for everyone,' Roberts said. It's something he has near the end of every performance Beauregard's Courtesy has had.
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Wooten Theatre is located at 102 East 1st St. in DeRidder.
