Nick Contranchis’ Bio

Nickie “Nick” Contranchis was born in Lafourche Parish on March 17, 1927 to Francis Contranchis and Marie Danos Contranchis.  One of six siblings, Nick was raised between Lafourche Parish and Jefferson Parish.  The family finally settled in Marrero, Louisiana, in the late 1940’s. 

Nick got his first guitar and taught himself to play in the late 1940’s early 1950’s.  Because of his love for Country and French Music, Nick formed his first band, “Nick and the Bayou Play Boys” in about 1955.  The initial members were Nick, Shelby Andras, and Ronald Galibot.  

In the early 1970’s, with the help of James “Jimmy” Trahan and Marion Marcotte, Nick recorded his first two songs “Summer Time” and “In My Heart” on the Crawdad Label, with Earl Ortega, Sr. on Steel Guitar, Huey Bourgeois on Lead Guitar, Jimmie Palmisano on Bass, and Gary Dee on drums. 

In the mid to late 1970’s, Nick changed the name of the band.  He decided this after a conversation with his good friend and band member, Steel Guitarist Paul Edwards.  As a result of this conversation the name of the band was changed to “Nick and the Delta Boys Cajun Band”. 

For the past 30 years or so, Nick’s regular Delta Boys Cajun Band members consisted of his son Carl Contranchis (Bass), Billy Joe Webb (Steel Guitar), Clancy Gros (Violin), Joseph “Smokie” Guthrie (Lead Guitar) and Jerry Chaisson and / or Richard Brown (Drums).  Smokie Guthrie passed away in about 1998.

Over the past 50 years, Nick had the occasion to play with many other local artists such as:

• Vin Bruce
• Marion Marcotte
• Jimmy Palmisano
• Deano Palmisano
• Alan Fontenot
• Big Tommy LeBlanc
• Blackie Savois
• Big Gerald Dubois
• Big Al Foret
• Gilroy 
• Gaston Guidry
• Smitty Eskine
• Louis “Smitty” Smith
• Jerry Fountain
• Ray Gill
• Joey Gill

These are just to name a few.

Some of the places that Nick and the Delta Boys Cajun Band played at, just to name a few, are as follows:

• The Crows Nest
• Lil Margie’s, Bridge City
• Hank’s Place, Bridge City
• Beulah’s Palace, Gretna
• The Sunrise Inn, Crown Point
• The J and J Bar, Crown Point
• The Captain’s Table, Marrero
• The Jungle Inn, Marrero
• The Whistle Stop, Kenner
• Ruth’s Lounge, Metairie
• The Trudeau Club, Metairie
• Pete’s Lounge, Kenner
• Fuzzy’s Bar, Lafitte
• The Moulin Rouge, Marrero
• The Swamp Inn, Westwego
• The Keyhole, Westwego
• The Canal Bank Inn, Westwego
• The Wego Opry, Westwego
• The Last Round-up, Gretna
• The Launch, Pearlington, MS 
  
  After 1997, the band stopped playing the Bars and Night Clubs.  They concentrated their efforts on playing for special events such as Birthday Parties, Weddings, Benefits, Nursing Homes, etc.  The band started playing free shows at local Nursing Homes. After a while the Delta Boys Cajun Band with Nick Contranchis, Jerry Chaisson, Carl Contranchis, and Al Louvel were playing about one Nursing Home a week in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, and St. Charles Parishes. 

Nick was married to Beverly Carmouche on March 8, 1956 and they raised six children.  Nick retired from the Jefferson Parish Roads and Bridges Department in 1982 after 25 years of service.