Wade Benson Landry finds new avenue to bring his music to younger audience

While Wade Benson Landry’s lengthy music career may have earned him “Living Legend” status, the Abbeville native is not resting on those laurels as he looks to bring his sound to a new audience.
In late May, the Acadian Museum in Erath inducted Landry into its Order of Living Legends. The honor has been bestowed upon those who have helped shape and define local culture.
“It brings me a sense of pride in my accomplishments,” Landry said, “and the good Cajun people from Vermilion Parish seem to be as excited for me as I am.
“That makes me proud to be a Cajun boy from Abbeville.”
Landry thanked Warren Perrin, the museum’s proprietor, for allowing him to join numerous friends and mentors in the order. He also expressed appreciation to Julie Badineaux, the executive director of the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission, for inducting him into the organization’s museum.
“Both of these Museums inducted not only myself,” Landry added, “but my beautiful wife, Teresa Bowe Landry, as well. Teresa is not only a soulful and sensational vocalist but also quite the entertainer. Originally from Missouri, Teresa and I met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry years ago. We fell in love 20 years ago, and we have been married for 17 years at the time of this writing. We have been touring and performing together all that time. The reasons for her induction into both museums are her great vocal talent and her ability as an entertainer. On stage, Teresa works with me to help create a show with a Cajun atmosphere. Teresa loves to be on stage sharing her God-given talents, and she loves living here in Cajun Country.”
Landry first put his talents on display for the world more than five decades ago. At 13, Landry won the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship. He recorded in Nashville by the time he graduated from Abbeville High School. Landry has toured the world with legendary artists, including George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, Jimmy C. Newman and Mel Tillis. Landry has performed at renowned venues such as the Grand Ole Opry, the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, and London’s Wembley Arena. Landry led his own show, “Swingin’ Cajun Style,” in Branson, Missouri, for several years.
“After 55 years of performing,” Landry said, “I still love it, and I still have the desire to hit that stage and show that audience what this Cajun Boy can do.”
However, Landry has taken somewhat of a step back from live performances. Now back in his home parish, Landry will still hit the stage at some local venues to “satisfy that desire.” He formed the “Landry Trio” along with his wife and sister, Denise Landry Ardeneaux.
Along with a new band, there is a new effort to bring Landry’s voice to a new audience. He recently signed with an independent record label, Neon Star Records, out of Sacramento, Calif. Mae McCoy, the label’s founder, heard some of Landry’s songs from his album, “Swingin’ Cajun Style Vol. II.” McCoy reached out to Landry, who introduced her to his wife’s work. McCoy wanted to include Teresa in the plans to bring Landry’s sound to a new, younger audience.
“Mae told me that her goal in life is to do as much as she could to help preserve traditional Country, Cajun, Western Swing and Gospel music,” Landry said. “I immediately knew the three of us together could do something worthwhile. Landry explained that McCoy is in the process of completing a website and YouTube channel to promote the Landrys.
“Our working together is definitely a blessing for the three of us from God Almighty,” Landry said. “Mae operates all online, of course, and our music can be purchased as single downloads or you can purchase the whole CD download. Until our website is complete, you can find out all you need to know about us and the plans that Mae McCoy and Neon Star Records have in store for us by sending me your email address to wadelandry57@gmail.com or going to neonstarca@gmail.com.”
The effort aims to reach a younger generation out west that has gravitated to the traditional songs and styles of Country, Western Swing, Cajun and Gospel music.
“Mae sees it in her performances in every part of California,” Landry said, “and proof of it in her responses from her podcast show, Mae Out West, that spans all through the western states and more. Teresa and I have personally witnessed it in dance clubs throughout Nashville. That new interest goes from Japan, across the Pacific Ocean to the western parts of the United States and all across our country, over the Atlantic Ocean into England,Ireland,Scotland,Germany, Austria, Sweden, and who knows where else.”
Does Landry feel compelled to adapt his sound and style for a new listener?”
“I’m not planning on doing anything different than what I have been doing all of my life,” Landry said. “This is what the younger country music fans are looking for. This music is the same music I started out playing with my Dad 55 years ago, and I still love it. I still listen to it, I collect it, I practice with it, I play it all the time, I remember and search out the old songs, I get ideas for my original material that I’m in the process of recording now, and I’m constantly working on arrangements for old songs as well as my new songs. Also, I always believed that the way you look on stage should relate to the music you are performing for the audience. I love dressing up. Embroidered and rhinestoned. Musical performances are 80% visual. Every bit of this is Old School 101.”
What the new audience will hear is someone invigorated by the next stage of a long career.
“As much as I’ve seen, and places I’ve been,” Landry said. ““I’m so excited to once again play and record my music my way. Mae, Teresa,, and I thank God Almighty for this wonderful opportunity for all of us. We believe that all of this is His will.
“I know that my God-given talent was handed down from my Mom and Dad, and is not for personal gain or self-satisfaction, but intended to be used to bring peace and joy to His people. And that’s what we plan to do.”
For more information on Wade Benson Landry and Teresa Bowe Landry on Neon Star Records and The Landry Trio, go to; wadelandry57@gmail.com or neonstarca@gmail.com
For The Landry Trio schedule and booking information, go to: wadelandry57@gmail.com or call 417-699-0418.