Celebrating 16 years on the web in 2012!

Pershing Wells

I began my musical career in the mid 60’s after my oldest brother, Bill, brought home a Magnatone guitar. It certainly changed my life forever.

My major musical influences then were the Beatles, Chet Atkins, The Ventures, and Howard Roberts. One of the first bands I played in, Southern Creation, specialized in "Pops and Standards." I was seventeen and playing songs like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". I could not have made a better choice of bands. It was a wonderful musical experience and I learned plenty.

I signed a recording contract in 1969 with Paula Records. The label had a #1 Billboard hit with John Fred and the Playboys "Judy in Disguise.” The name of this band was the Bad Habits (formerly known as Debbie and the Lads). The single from the '69 session "Night Owl", was an old R & B classic from the 50's. The New Orleans icon AM radio station of the day, WTIX, picked the song as "Pick hit of the week". The song made it as "Regional breakthrough" in Billboard Magazine.

I moved to Colorado in 1971 and worked with two really cool bar bands; Moss Point and Elijah and Company. While there, I recorded a project album with Mitch Ryder (of Detroit Wheels fame). I also worked in almost every ski area in the state. This was a five year vacation for me and another very valuable life experience.

I moved back to Louisiana in 1976. I took a little time off to begin a family but eventually joined the Country Sunshine Band that won the first major "Country Starsearch" competition. This was in 1983. The group featured three female singers, a typical country music rhythm section and four horns (atypical for the time). We flew to Nashville and taped a TV show playing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry as well as the Roy Acuff theater. We shared the stage with the likes of Jerry Reed, Tammy Wynette, Mel Tillis, Roy Acuff, and other country giants of the time. Through the mid-eighties I played on dozens of local "Swamp Pop" singles and albums as a session guitarist. I also bought my first four track reel-to-reel semi pro recorder about this time.

In the early ‘80s through the mid '90's, I worked with a rhythm and blues band named the Blue Eyed Soul Revue. The band cut an album with Ernie K-Doe (of "Mother-In-Law" fame). K-doe sang on one of my songs "What’s the Deal". The band worked at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for nine straight years performing with Percy Sledge (When a Man Loves a Woman), Jean Knight (Mr. Big Stuff), Ernie K-Doe (Mother in Law), Eddie Bo, and other New Orleans greats. I also had the privilege of playing at the Gospel Tent at Jazz Fest with Delma Trosclair and the Heaven Seekers.

I was chief engineer at AppleTracks Recording Studio from 1989-1995. This is where The Deuce of Hearts "Oh What a Night", Chris Wells "Rooms With Color", Jayde Chase "Smooth Talker", Delma Trosclair and the Heaven Seekers, among others cut their albums. I produced both "Smooth Talker" and "Rooms With Color."

In the late '90's I worked with a few local bar bands. The Reverbs, which featured great vocals and songwriters and Kingsroe, a high powered show band well known and respected in New Orleans area. I rejoined the Blue Eyed Soul Revue which has an extensive list of credits.

I began my production company Digital Sac-a-Lait Productions in 2002. The first album "Been Down that Muddy Road" by Swamp Pop master Joe Barry was voted on of the top thirty albums of 2003 by the New Orleans Times Picayune and Seattle, Washington e-publication No Depression. The release is on the Night Train International label based in New York City.

My first solo album "Loveland" has received high praise from both the press and listeners.

Since 2002 I've produced 11 albums..

Below: A benefit gig for Ernie K-Doe with other New Orleans legends Allen Toussaint (left) and Oliver "Who Shot the Lala" Morgan (right with umbrella)