Mike "Chop" Chapman was born on August 7, 1949, in Mamou, Louisiana to parents Moise Chapman and Ola Ardion Aucoin Chapman, who initially met while working in a cotton field with their parents, who were tenant farmers. The family lived just west of the town of Mamou off Oberlin Road. Chop's mother Ola owned a popular women's dress shop in town and his father Moise owned a bar called Chapman's which was located next to the French Casino Lounge on 6th street. Chop grew up listening to Cajun music, having been exposed to it at an early age, listening to it on local radio stations such as KEUN in Eunice ( especially the Revon Reed Show live from Fred's Lounge) and on KVPI out of Ville Platte. When Chop was around 10 years old he could listen to Cajun music playing on the jukebox at his father's bar. It was these establishments that Chop learned tempo. While at the back of Chapman's Bar one day he could hear music coming from the French Casino Lounge next door. Chop snuck away from his parents and as he walked up to the back door of the establishment an elderly woman speaking French, told him to sneak under the table located inside the back room so he could watch. He took quick notice as he listened. At that point he became interested in playing. Chop would continue to sneak to the French Casino as often as he could. At first, Chop took up playing the petit fer (triangle) after watching Burkemann Balfa, who Chop thought was the best and eventually mastered the little iron instrument himself. The triangle was a very popular in early traditional Cajun music. As time went on and Rock and Roll was popular, Chop had an affinity to play drums in a Rock and Roll band, but he quickly realized being physically small in statue that it was very taxing to play and keep up with. Chop had a good friend by the name of Toney Balfa, who encouraged him to learn to play drums in Cajun music, which wasn't as taxing on him physically. Toney invited Chop to the home of the Balfa Brothers to observe them jam and eat supper. He was amazed, became quickly smitten, and would become a regular around their residence. Chop eventually learned enough to become part of a group of young musicians around his age that called themselves "La Basse Classe" ( pronounced La Boss Kloss ) meaning low class. The group would play at house dances around town. In 1971, while in his late teens, Chop went into the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War era, stationed in Korea. Not long after enlisting, tragedy struck the Chapman family when Chop's father Moise was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing the street after fetching a bag of ice. Apparently a woman was late bringing her child to school and ran the streets only red light at the time. She was estimated at driving close to 70mph. Moise didn't die immediately but later succumbed to injuries in the local hospital. After Chop's military service had ended in 1974, he returned home for a stint before eventually moving to Lake Charles. Chop played in the Lake Charles area and continued to travel back and forth to the Mamou area often to play drums for many Cajun musicians when needed. By then, Chop had gained a reputation for his drumming skills with his good tempo, the ability to drive a band with tight playing and became sought after. He played at many of the area clubs, festivals, and functions in the Mamou region including Mardi Gras. Some of the musicians who had reached out to him were Marc Savoy, D.L. Menard, Toney Balfa, Blackie Forestier, and popular Swamp Pop musician and best friend Clint (Guillory) West with whom he played with on several occasions. One of the local drummers Chop admired was Vorance Berzas, finding his style unique and amazing. He tried to mimic Vorance's offbeat style but found it difficult to achieve. Through the years he played at the Mamou area clubs such as Fred's Lounge, French Casino, Manuel's Bar, and Hotel Cazan to name a few. In 1983, he was contacted by Lake Charles native Tim Savoy, who had started an area Cajun music band called Calcasieu Playboys. The band's original drummer, the late Toney Abshire had recently enlisted in the Navy and was in need of an eventual replacement. Chop played a session with the band that included members Tim Savoy on accordion, Jody Fontenot on fiddle, Jimmy Higginbothem on bass and lead vocals, and Terry Abshire on steel guitar, the departing drummers twin brother. The band played at many local venues and became very popular throughout the Lake Area, Southwest Louisiana, Acadiana and parts of east Texas, including large festivals and even a televised telethon. They eventually entered into a contract with the Louisiana Department of Interior to play at the New Orleans French market. At the time they were one of the youngest bands playing Cajun music in the Lake Charles area. In 1986, they were recorded on the first CFMA compilation album with the song Allons a' Lafayette. They also recorded several single 45rpm records and Chop sang lead on the song "73 Special". That same year as the band was in high demand, Tim quit the band to pursue a college degree so the band disbanded, with each musician moving on to play elsewhere. It didn't take long for Chop to find another band when a young upstart accordion player and singer by the name of Steve Riley came a calling. Steve had recently took over for Maurice Berzas and received the rights to the name Mamou Playboys, renaming the band Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys. The line-up featured a talented group with Steve on accordion, David Greely on fiddle, and Michael Dupay. who eventually left the band and was replaced by Kevin Barzas ( grandson of Maurice and son of Vorance ) on guitar. Steve offered Chop to sit in with them on a session at Mulate's Restaurant in Baton Rouge after which was offered the job as the band's full time drummer. With this band, Chop performed in 38 states in the US and internationally in places in France, Canada, Scotland, Europe, and the Caribbean, as well as in Louisiana. He played with the band for three years and appeared on two albums. After parting ways with them in the early 1990's, Chop became part of another highly successful Cajun band, Christine Balfa and Balfa Toujours which featured band mates Christine Balfa, Kevin Wimmer, Dirk Powell, and supplemented at times with Nelda Balfa, Toney Balfa, Courtney Granger, and Peter Schwartz. Chop went on to play with them for several years, appearing on their first two albums and toured around the US and parts of Europe. In 1993, he sang lead vocal on the song "Two Step Des Vieux Homme" on the bands 1st album "Pop tu me parles toujour", and sang "73' Special" on their 2nd album "A vielle Terre Haute" which was released in 1995. Chop still lives in Lake Charles and still enjoys listening to vintage Cajun and swamp pop 45 rpm records on his vintage juke box in his home. He is a longtime educator with the Calcasieu Parish school system where he retired as a science teacher. His music playing career spanned over 50 years, but has difficulty playing today due to a physical condition. He was instrumental in passing down his drumming skills to the younger generation. Special thanks go out to the ones who helped contribute to this article including interviews with Chop himself, Tim Savoy, Jody Fontenot, Richard DesHotels, Eunice News Archives, Evangeline News Archives, and The Daily World of Opelousas Archives. *Dedicated to Chop and all the unsung drummers in Cajun music. Composed by Neal P Granger
