I got very excited recently when Jasmine Records released Prisoner’s Song, a compilation of certain of the tremendous works by Warren Storm (Jasmine Records JASCD 1196).  Storms’ timeless classic, the title track of this 32-cut collection, “Prisoner’s Song,” has long been one of my all-time favorite swamp pop/blues tunes.  Its wistful melancholic story of a man locked away in the penitentiary longing to be able to scale the institution’s walls via flight to get back into his baby’s arms is almost perfection for idyllically capturing the angst felt when the heart aches and is tormented by some sort of divide that denies access to the love of one’s life.  The overall cadence of the tune, Storm’s faultless delivery, and that unhurried swamp pop/blues atmosphere all perfectly frame the story being told.  In addition to Storm’s supreme classic, the new Jasmine Records release also includes additional masterpieces of his including “Mama Mama Mama Look What Your Little Boy’s Done,” “Blues Stop Knocking (At My Door),” and “This Should Go On Forever,” to name only three.  If you are able to do so, pick this compilation up for your collection; you’ll be most assuredly satisfied and thrilled with its contents.

I got to thinking that while I am a huge Warren Storm fan, I’ve never devoted space here to take a look at his life, career, influences, and influence, so a survey of such seems to be in order.

His birth name was Warren Schexnider, and he came into the world in mid-February, 1937 in Leroy, Louisiana, a town in Vermilion Parish, an area in the state’s far southwestern region.  By the time that the young man was the age of five, he and his family moved to Abbeville, Louisiana, a town also located in Vermilion Parish.  As the young man’s father was a Cajun musician, music was a constant in his life, so it was only natural that he would turn his attention to playing an instrument; in his case, he chose the drums.  While it is somewhat unclear as to when the young Warren Schexnider officially took the performing surname “Storm,” going forward here we will refer to him with that last name.

Storm gathered the wealth of inspirations and influences he found all around him as a result of being a musician’s son as he practiced and gained experience as a percussionist.  It did not take Storm long to establish himself as a paid musician, as by the age of 12 he began to substitute for his father on drums with the Rayne-Bo Cajun group. 

The great swamp pop singer Bobby Charles was also from Abbeville, he and Storm struck up a friendship, and due to their mutual rabid love of music, they would hit the road to see and hear and learn from musicians they idolized.  It was not unusual to find the two traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana to take in performances by music royals such as Fats Domino, while in the process seeing esteemed percussionists like Charles Williams (a major influence on the young Storm) and Earl Palmer in the process of their meanderings.  These forays into the hotbed of southern music were highly influential in affecting the eventual drumming style Storm would come to call his own.

The young Storm continued to play professionally, lending his ever-growing percussion skills to Larry Brasso’s Rhythm-Aires (a country-oriented band), and then also with the Herb Landry Band.

The year 1956 was a major one for Storm, as he founded his first band, the We-Wows.  During this period, Storm’s broad drumming skills paid dividends in another way as he became in-demand as a session musician. 

By 1958, Storm found himself in the studio yet again, but this time he was able to lay down tracks under his own name with famed swamp music producer Jay Miller at a celebrated Nashville, Tennessee studio, recording a 45rpm release of “Prisoner’s Song” and “Mama Mama Mama Look What Your Little Boy’s Done” for the Nasco Records label.  As a result, Storm’s career would suddenly be forever changed, as “Prisoner’s Song” eventually sold over 250,000 copies, landing it on the Billboard charts as a major seller.  The song was a grand meld of blues, R&B, country, and Cajun influences, and these first two releases from Storm became a couple of his lifelong signature compositions, and remained in his performing repertoire for the rest of his career.

But what Storm did on a grander scale was create the artistic format for what became known as “swamp pop/blues.”

During this period of emergence for Storm, he served as the session percussionist for many of Excello Records’ releases by swamp blues giants such as Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, Katie Webster, and Lightnin’ Slim, among others.  Excello was also based in Nashville.

Storm’s apex continued to be established, and in 1962 he joined forces with Rod Bernard and Skip Stewart (both very important regional musicians at the time in Louisiana) to form a group named The Shondells.  The band was very popular, and remained viable and in-demand until its demise in 1970.  A 1964 album entitled The Shondells At The Saturday Hop was released in 1964 on the La Louisianne Records label.

From 1962-1970 while with The Shondells, Storm continued to release solo 45rpm releases for a number of imprints including Dot Records, Zynn, Sincere Record Co., Kingfish, Pic 1, Tear Drop, and Preview Records.

But Storm was not slowing down after the disbanding of The Shondells.  He continued to perform to enthusiastic audiences, and in 1980 released a full-length album on the Master-Trak label entitled Sincerely.

It was also in 1980 when Storm joined energies with saxophonist Willie Tee in creating the band named Cypress.  Though only enjoying a run of about four years, Storm and Tee continued to work together off-and-on through 2004.

The 1980s and 1990s found Storm at the helm of various bands at numerous Louisiana clubs and dance establishments.  During this period, Storm had albums released on the South Star Records and Jin Records labels, with 45rpm releases coming out on the ATCO Records, Preview Records, Showtime, Starflite, Master-Trak, Crazy Cajun, South Star Records, Jin Records, and American Pla-Boy imprints.

It should also be noted that a 1997 release entitled Boppin’ Tonight with Al Ferrier was released on the Flyright Records label.

Also, in 1998 he was part of Lil’ Band Of Gold, a group that included guitarist and singer CC. Adcock, singer and accordion player Steve Riley, pedal steel guitar player Richard Comeaux, piano player and singer David Egan, bass player Dave Ronson, and a trio of saxophone players (Strom was the band’s drummer).  As is often the case with artists who perform within a niche musical style, their popularity eventually wanes, but his partnership with Lil’ Band Of Gold served as a career revival, as the group was considered an all-star aggregation, and thus, it captured the attention of many.

In 2004, Storm got back together with Tee and brought the band Cypress back to life, releasing an album in 2008 entitled Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress.

In 2010, Storm received a wonderful recognition for his long, storied career being installed into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.      

Storm was to continue his reign as one of the masters of Louisiana music until his passing in early September, 2021.

Without any qualification, Storm was a Louisiana and swamp pop/blues king.  His economic drumming, smooth voice full of conviction, and tremendous body of work will forever live on and for certainly inspire new generations of fans and musicians alike.

Again, the new Jasmine Records compilation is highly recommended.