There's one song that percussionist Daryl Boudreaux made certain was on the playlist for the seventh annual "R.E.S.P.E.C.T. — A Tribute to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin."
The MidAmerica Talent event is Friday and Saturday at Bunkers. Among the performers: Jamecia Bennett, Ginger Commodore, Kathleen Johnson, Germain Brooks, Rhonda Johnson, Tony Axtell, Brian Ziemniak, Troy Norton and Brian Kendrick. In addition to the greatest hits of the Queen of Soul, some of Aretha's "hidden gems" also will be showcased. Boudreaux's favorite was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector. That's the only clue you're getting as I start this interview by asking the percussionist why he's called Peach Cobbler.
Q: Peach Cobbler?
A: Some years back we were doing a Marvin Gaye tribute and a lady at my church had made some peach cobbler. I had it in my car. I told vocalist James Brown, who sings with Jaybee & the Routine, that I was going to cut him a slice. He never received it. That's been an ongoing joke the past 10, 15 years. Whenever I work with MidAmerica Talent's Jeff Taube and when he e-mails me he refers to me as Peach Cobbler. I'll text an image of a slice of peach cobbler and say, "It's on its way" but it never seems to arrive.
Q: Could you make a peach cobbler?
A: [Long pause] I know how to hire people and ask people. I'm good at that ... I [can prepare] gumbo and étouffée.
Q: With a name like Boudreaux, I imagine so.
A: Oh, yeaaaaah. My dad's from a town between Lafayette and Lake Charles. When I first had étouffée, I wanted no part of it. It didn't look like anything I was used to eating ... So one summer we were down in Louisiana and my cousins were in the kitchen, and I said, "I want to learn how to make this étouffée." They said, "Come on." And I've never forgotten. That was back in 1998.
