They Sashay By...

From Bourbon Street to Esplanade—LeRoux is back.

- 

In the ’70s and ’80s, Louisiana’s LeRoux released five major-label albums. The band’s biggest hit, “Nobody Said It Was Easy,” reached the national Top 20. Two other songs, “Addicted” and “Carrie’s Gone,” received radio play and MTV exposure.

But “New Orleans Ladies,” LeRoux’s most famous song in Louisiana, never reached the Top 40. Lack of national success didn’t stop the bittersweet ballad, written by LeRoux bassist Leon Medica and Bogalusa songwriter Hoyt Garrick, from becoming a ubiquitous slow-dance classic in the Southeast.

40 years after “New Orleans Ladies” appeared on LeRoux’s debut album, the band feels renewed by its mix of new and classic membership. It’s even recording a new album.

The roots of LeRoux date to 1975, when its precursor, the Jeff Pollard Band, was a popular Baton Rouge group. In 1977, the Pollard Band toured the U.S. and Africa as backup for the eclectic roots-music star Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. The group subsequently signed with Capitol Records and changed its name to LeRoux. In 1978, Capitol released the Louisiana’s LeRoux album.

The regional popularity of “New Orleans Ladies” helped LeRoux secure opening act gigs with Kansas, Chicago, ZZ Top, Ozzy Osbourne, the Beach Boys, Foreigner, .38 Special, REO Speedwagon, the Doobie Brothers, Bob Seger, Journey and Loverboy.