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While Wade Benson Landry’s lengthy music career may have earned him “Living Legend” status, the Abbeville native is not resting on those laurels as he looks to bring his sound to a new audience.
In late May, the Acadian Museum in Erath inducted Landry into its Order of Living Legends. The honor has been bestowed upon those who have helped shape and define local culture.
“It brings me a sense of pride in my accomplishments,” Landry said, “and the good Cajun people from Vermilion Parish seem to be as excited for me as I am.
“That makes me proud to be a Cajun boy from Abbeville.”
Landry thanked Warren Perrin, the museum’s proprietor, for allowing him to join numerous friends and mentors in the order. He also expressed appreciation to Julie Badineaux, the executive director of the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission, for inducting him into the organization’s museum.
“Both of these Museums inducted not only myself,” Landry added, “but my beautiful wife, Teresa Bowe Landry, as well. Teresa is not only a soulful and sensational vocalist but also quite the entertainer. Originally from Missouri, Teresa and I met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry years ago. We fell in love 20 years ago, and we have been married for 17 years at the time of this writing. We have been touring and performing together all that time. The reasons for her induction into both museums are her great vocal talent and her ability as an entertainer. On stage, Teresa works with me to help create a show with a Cajun atmosphere. Teresa loves to be on stage sharing her God-given talents, and she loves living here in Cajun Country.”
Landry first put his talents on display for the world more than five decades ago. At 13, Landry won the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship. He recorded in Nashville by the time he graduated from Abbeville High School. Landry has toured the world with legendary artists, including George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, Jimmy C. Newman and Mel Tillis. Landry has performed at renowned venues such as the Grand Ole Opry, the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, and London’s Wembley Arena. Landry led his own show, “Swingin’ Cajun Style,” in Branson, Missouri, for several years.
“After 55 years of performing,” Landry said, “I still love it, and I still have the desire to hit that stage and show that audience what this Cajun Boy can do.”
However, Landry has taken somewhat of a step back from live performances. Now back in his home parish, Landry will still hit the stage at some local venues to “satisfy that desire.” He formed the “Landry Trio” along with his wife and sister, Denise Landry Ardeneaux.
Along with a new band, there is a new effort to bring Landry’s voice to a new audience. He recently signed with an independent record label, Neon Star Records, out of Sacramento, Calif. Mae McCoy, the label’s founder, heard some of Landry’s songs from his album, “Swingin’ Cajun Style Vol. II.” McCoy reached out to Landry, who introduced her to his wife’s work. McCoy wanted to include Teresa in the plans to bring Landry’s sound to a new, younger audience.
“Mae told me that her goal in life is to do as much as she could to help preserve traditional Country, Cajun, Western Swing and Gospel music,” Landry said. “I immediately knew the three of us together could do something worthwhile. Landry explained that McCoy is in the process of completing a website and YouTube channel to promote the Landrys.
“Our working together is definitely a blessing for the three of us from God Almighty,” Landry said. “Mae operates all online, of course, and our music can be purchased as single downloads or you can purchase the whole CD download. Until our website is complete, you can find out all you need to know about us and the plans that Mae McCoy and Neon Star Records have in store for us by sending me your email address to wadelandry57@gmail.com or going to neonstarca@gmail.com.”
The effort aims to reach a younger generation out west that has gravitated to the traditional songs and styles of Country, Western Swing, Cajun and Gospel music.
“Mae sees it in her performances in every part of California,” Landry said, “and proof of it in her responses from her podcast show, Mae Out West, that spans all through the western states and more. Teresa and I have personally witnessed it in dance clubs throughout Nashville. That new interest goes from Japan, across the Pacific Ocean to the western parts of the United States and all across our country, over the Atlantic Ocean into England,Ireland,Scotland,Germany, Austria, Sweden, and who knows where else.”
Does Landry feel compelled to adapt his sound and style for a new listener?”
“I’m not planning on doing anything different than what I have been doing all of my life,” Landry said. “This is what the younger country music fans are looking for. This music is the same music I started out playing with my Dad 55 years ago, and I still love it. I still listen to it, I collect it, I practice with it, I play it all the time, I remember and search out the old songs, I get ideas for my original material that I’m in the process of recording now, and I’m constantly working on arrangements for old songs as well as my new songs. Also, I always believed that the way you look on stage should relate to the music you are performing for the audience. I love dressing up. Embroidered and rhinestoned. Musical performances are 80% visual. Every bit of this is Old School 101.”
What the new audience will hear is someone invigorated by the next stage of a long career.
“As much as I’ve seen, and places I’ve been,” Landry said. ““I’m so excited to once again play and record my music my way. Mae, Teresa,, and I thank God Almighty for this wonderful opportunity for all of us. We believe that all of this is His will.
“I know that my God-given talent was handed down from my Mom and Dad, and is not for personal gain or self-satisfaction, but intended to be used to bring peace and joy to His people. And that’s what we plan to do.”
For more information on Wade Benson Landry and Teresa Bowe Landry on Neon Star Records and The Landry Trio, go to; wadelandry57@gmail.com or neonstarca@gmail.com
For The Landry Trio schedule and booking information, go to: wadelandry57@gmail.com or call 417-699-0418.

Although the state office has not confirmed any details about a space exploration company moving south of the Intracoastal Waterway, Sen. Bob Hensgens said parish leaders should start preparing for possible changes.
Sen. Hensgens told Abbeville Rotarians and guests at a weekly meeting that SpaceX or Blue Origin might build a large facility south of Pecan Island, near the Gulf of Mexico.
“We need to start thinking now about how to maximize the possibilities and minimize disruptions,” Hensgens said.
Thus far, parish officials for the school district, police jury or city officials have not come together in one room to discus what would happen a space exploration company does want to build in the parish.
Over the next three years, more than 3,000 construction workers and their family could be working in Vermilion Parish if a space exploration company builds in the parish.
The Senator also added that if an aerospace company chooses Vermilion Parish, the parish should focus on three things: workforce training, building up local suppliers, and getting infrastructure and housing ready.
“We need to make sure the possible company partners with and participates in workforce training, so our people can benefit from those high-paying jobs,” Hensgens said. “We need to make sure we have a strong supplier network so that Vermilion-based companies can get contracts, and of course we need to prepare our infrastructure and housing.”
The Louisiana state government has already passed several laws to support the aerospace industry, including letting parishes exempt these companies from regular property and sales taxes.
Hensgens mentioned the Meta data center in Richland Parish as an example of how big industrial projects can still bring in tax revenue and help public spending, even if the companies get some tax breaks.
Hensgens also talked about worries over how the project could affect nearby communities and the environment.
“A major industrial space complex here would be transformational,” Hensgens said. “We’re talking about the possibility of thousands of high-wage jobs in engineering, manufacturing, construction, operational, and technical skills. These are careers that can raise family incomes well above our current mean.”
The 100,000 plus acres of people are talking about is owned by ExxonMobil and is currently leased for hunting, which is an important tradition in Vermilion Parish. Hensgens said he thinks state leaders will work to protect the area’s natural resources.
Kaplan Mayor Mike Kloesel said Kaplan will be ready for newcomers to hopefully locate in Kaplan. He attended the Rotary Club’s meeting to listen to the Senator.
“There is no question that if SpaceX comes just south of Kaplan, it would have a tremendous impact on our town,” Mayor Kloesel said. “We could be looking at a transformation of our community almost overnight. My job isn’t to decide which project comes to Vermilion Parish. My job is to make sure Kaplan is prepared for the opportunities and challenges that come with something of this magnitude.”
Hensgens said he is not directly involved in talks about the facility, but he trusts Gov. Jeff Landry’s judgment.
“No one I know likes to hunt more than Jeff Landry. He’s one of us. He’s not going to sign off on anything that will hurt our environment.”
The Mayor added, “This is an incredible opportunity for Vermilion Parish. But if we’re not ready—if our communities aren’t clean, attractive, and welcoming—we risk seeing people work south of Kaplan and Abbeville while choosing to live in neighboring parishes that have already made those investments. We have to be ready.”

KAPLAN - During the city council meeting on Tuesday night, the Kaplan City Council conducted five condemnation hearings and decided to condemn two of those five houses. This means the homeowners have 30 days to tidy up their properties, or the city will bring in a contractor, and the costs will fall on the property owners.
The city council voted to condemn the property on North Herpin Street and West Veterans Memorial Drive.
Both homeowners will receive a certified letter from the city letting them know their property has been condemned. If they do not clean up their property to the mayor and council’s standards within 30 days, the city will hire a contractor to remove the unwanted items. The owner will get the bill, and if it is not paid, the city will place a lien on the property.
“It needs a lot of work,” said Mayor Kloesel. “The landowner has a lot of stuff in the yard.”
There are small trailers, broken vehicles, and other items on the property on North Herpin.
Councilman Mike Renfrow recently drove by and saw that some progress was being made to clean up the property.
“Progress is being made, but my biggest complaint is the fence,” Renfrow said.
The landowner received a public notice inviting him to Tuesday’s city council meeting, but he did not attend.
“I really wished he would have attended the meeting,” Renfrow said.
Councilman Randy Campbell added, “Had he come, we could have helped him by giving him more time. But he is not here.”
The council also voted to condemn the property on West Veterans Memorial Drive.
The council gave the landowner at 502 North Frederick more time to clean up. He attended the meeting and shared his plan to tear down the house, starting on August 4. The council gave him until November to finish the demolition and remove the wood.

September 9, 1939 - July 25, 2026

ABBEVILLE — A Home-going Celebration of life will be held for Mr. Walter ”Boggie” Levine, Sr. 86, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Mount Triumph Baptist Church (313 South Lamar).
Pastor Willie Williams will officiate the service.
He will await the resurrection at Saint Paul Cemetery (515 Jacuelyn Drive) in Abbeville, LA.
The visitation will be held at Mount Triumph Baptist Church on Saturday, August 1, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
Walter Levine, Sr. was a resident of Abbeville, LA. He transitioned from his earthly life at 10:46 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at his residence.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his companion, Andrea Dozier of Abbeville, LA; one son, Deshawn Dozier (Ariel) of Abbeville, LA; two daughters, Lena Renee Levine of Port Arthur, TX and Renella Harkess of Houston, TX; eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; special step-grandson, Quentin Derouen; special step-great-grandson, Christian Derouen and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George Levine and Vertner Reedom Levine; one son, Walter George Levine, Jr.; two brothers, Dalton Levine and Dallas Levine; one sister, Irene Levine Hawthorne.
Active Pallbearers will be Brent Bessard, Jerome Bessard, Damion Comeaux, Darius Comeaux, Bryce Nunez, and Noah Vaughn.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Andrew Dozier, Larry Dozier, Sterling Johnson, Donald McNeal, Earl Nero, and Michael Smith.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org
Most sacred services are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home (337-893-2440) 1116 Green Street Abbeville, LA 70510.