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Teddy’s Juke Joint keeps the blues alive
By James Cohn
In the northern end of the parish off a dirt road near Highway 61, stands Teddy’s Juke Joint, one of the last juke joints in Louisiana – a hidden treasure of good food, strong drinks, and some of the best live music the Baton Rouge area has to offer.
Owner Lloyd “Teddy” Johnson has been around the juke joint his whole life. He used to do radio in the 60s and spent some time pursuing a DJ career. However, Johnson eventually came back to his family home in Zachary, which he converted into Teddy’s Juke Joint in the early ‘70s. (The spot where his bed once stood is now the men’s bathroom; the original front porch is now the stage.)
Over the past 30 years, many local blues legends – including Bryan Lee and Larry Garner – have graced Teddy’s stage, making it a hotspot for good ole fashioned Southern blues.
In a phone interview with Johnson, he explained why he has stayed with the juke joint after all these years: “Because I love the blues. That’s what I was raised on and that’s what I know about.”
Over the years Johnson has made the interior of his bar truly unique, decorating it with Christmas lights, old strung together CDs, and various electric knick-knacks. He has completed all the renovations himself and even runs the sound.
This hard work has paid off, as Teddy’s is finally getting recognized regionally and even internationally.
“My friend who’s a teacher at LSU brought his friend from France to the joint,” said Johnson. “He liked it so much that when he got back to France, he wrote a column in France’s top newspaper about us.”
Starting on February 13, Johnson will begin his 63rd birthday party celebration at Teddy’s Juke Joint. Not afraid of a good time, Johnson said he plans on “celebrating all month long” and “eating a different cake everyday.”
Helping with the month long celebration will be blues Texan Didley Squat and Selwyn Cooper, who, according to Johnson, is “a great guitarist and vocalist” who has “traveled all around the country playing blues and zydeco.”
Other artists performing at the joint in 2009 include Rudy Richard, Lil’ Dave Thompson, Lil’ Ray Neal, Gregg Wright and Scott Holt, among many others.
In addition to live performances, Teddy’s also holds a Sunday and Wednesday jam session that Johnson says “helps keep the blues alive.”
“Bunch of kids from LSU come out here for our Wednesday night jam session,” said Johnson. “Calvin Cullins on the bass. I got a drum set. It’s real laid back. Everyone has a good time.”
Besides serving up a good time, Teddy’s also serves some of the best bar food around: fish sandwiches, burgers, and more “juke joint” selections. Helping Johnson in the kitchen is his wife, Nancy.
“[Nancy] has become famous for her fried pork chop sandwich,” said Johnson. “It’s the best thing on the menu.”
When not working at the bar, Johnson does commercials for radio stations in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
In an area with a strong but waning blues tradition, Teddy’s Juke Joint is still serving up good music and good times. Though it’s off the beaten path, it is worth the trip to visit a blues landmark and pay the owner respect after 30 years of keeping the blues alive.
Lloyd “Teddy” Johnson’s birthday celebration will be taking place all this month.. Doors open at 2 pm with bands starting at 7 p.m. For more information on Teddy’s Juke Joint visit www.teddysjukejoint.com.