And there's a party Friday at Grant Street Dancehall.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
By Dominick Cross
D.L. Menard found his eighth decade last Saturday; however, a birthday celebration is set for Friday as part of the Marcia Ball show at Grant Street Dancehall.
"This is his 80th," says Bill Simmons, a friend and fan of Menard. "This is a big one."
Simmons has put together a couple of birthday celebrations for the Grammy-nominated musician known for "La Porte En Arrière" (The Back Door). A few years ago, he approached Ball after a Downtown Alive! show to see if she would be interested in dropping by Menard's birthday party at Grant Street.
"For some reason, I suspected that she liked D.L.," says Simmons. "And so I went to her at DTA! and asked if she would like to come over."
Ball and part of her band dropped by "and she stayed the whole night," says Simmons.
This time around, Menard is expected to open for Ball around 9:15 p.m.
"He'll just play about three songs," says Simmons. "He's got Terry Huval and Ray Abshire backing him up. I guess Marcia will probably come out and play with D.L. also. They're just going to do a little bit."
Simmons says Menard, "if he feels spry enough," may hang around long enough to join Ball on stage for old-times sake. He also says there will not be a fee to park at Grant Street.
Depending on who you talk to, either "La Porte En Arrière" or "Jolie Blon" is the Cajun National Anthem.