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The band plays Jan. 21
at American Red Cross Culinary Classic sponsored by Northwest
Louisiana Chapter. The band is donating its
services so more proceeds can go directly to helping those in need in
the community.
Super Group is just one
among dozens of bands that perform on the local social circuit. It is so popular that pal
Chris Krison and bride Jeannie Krison planned their wedding for Nov. 24,
the only date left on the Super Group calendar when they called almost a
year in advance. What makes a band
successful? "Keeping up with
people who are dancing and playing what they want. Energy. You have got
to have energy. If you don't, the people feel it," said musician
Bill Causey, who has directed bands here since 1972.
"The band is so much
fun. He interacts with people at the party and I think his involvement
makes the occasion special. He has a really good band and plays all kind
of music. All age groups seem to enjoy the band," said longtime
time Harmon pal Jimmy Gosslee. He hired Super Group to play at the Dec.
29 wedding of daughter Krista Lauren Gosslee to Robert Douglas LeBlanc
Jr.
At the Gosslee wedding
reception, Super Group started off with Aretha Franklin's Chain of Fools
and Respect and through the evening played other such tunes as Glenn
Miller's In the Mood and Creedence Clearwater Revival's version of Proud
Mary. Then there was Every Time I Roll the Dice, Fly Me to the Moon and
Play That Funky Music White Boy.
The nine-piece band has
members from all over northwest Louisiana, including lead vocalist Mike
Morris of Many, owner of Morris Furniture, Donnie Hyams, a computer
programmer from Natchitoches, Ken Cardino of Shreveport and trombone
player John LeBoeuf, Alexandria, vice president of Centennial Wireless.
Super Group has played bar
mitzvahs, wedding receptions and class reunions. They've performed at
Louisiana State Bar and Louisiana District Attorney associations. And
for the Blount Family Reunion in Union Springs, Ala., and the Cane
Bangers' Dance Club, Selma, Ala.
They are regulars at local
casinos. To clear up any ethics
problems over whether a judge can do business with riverboat casinos,
the Louisiana Legislature, at the band's request, passed a special law.
It says that elected public officials who also are professional
performing musicians may contract with casinos for their musical
services.
In November, the band took
a seven-day Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Inspiration
from New Orleans. "We played for people from teen-agers to
80," said Drew. Like chameleons, they
change attire with the occasion. They wore tropical casual for the
Krison wedding at the Elks Club and black tie for the Gosslee-LeBlanc
wedding.
Drew started his music
career in 1962 when he began tinkering with the keyboard by ear. "I never really
learned to read music. I'm not talented, but I'm diligent." he said
in an interview in his 2nd Circuit office. He keeps a keyboard on the
desk in the office where walls are filled with law books and portraits
of his grandfather and great-grandfather who were also 2nd Circuit
judges. "I might come in and
practice an introduction I am not getting. Or I peck on a song we might
try ... quietly, so I don't bother other judges," he added, with a
chuckle.
His first band, The Monks,
played Bob Dylan. After two years, he changed the name to Ivy Peebles
Medicine Show Band. His early band's first gigs
were for Minden High School after-football game dances. "We got $25 a night
and were glad to get it," he said. Through college and law
school, Drew's bands played on.
Music is in his blood, but
he is serious about his law career and proud that he is a fifth
generation lawyer/judge. He is a graduate of LSU and LSU Law School.
They have two children:
· Richard, a recent graduate from LSU Law School; and
· Georgia, a sales manager at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention
Center.
Law is a career he shares with wife Jean, whom he met in law school. The
Drews practiced law together in private practice and in the
Bossier-Webster District Attorney's office. And both ended up at 2nd
Circuit - she has worked as a research assistant there for 25 years.
Harmon served as Minden City Judge three years, Bossier-Webster District
Judge for 11 years, and now 11 years at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal.
When he is not playing music or judging? "Jean and Harmon Louisiana
criminal law to thousands of peace officers each year. The Drews also
annually publish the “True Blue Drew Book” which are sold all over
Louisiana.
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