Biography
From the 1940s into the 1960s, Blanchard remained a constant presence on the New Orleans music circuit in his dual role as guitarist and bandleader. By 1947 he had taken over leadership of the house band at the Down Beat Club on Rampart Street, where Roy Brown served among the vocalists. His best-known ensemble, the Gondoliers, began with a twin-guitar front line featuring Ernest McLean; by the 1960s the lineup had expanded to include alto saxophonist Dimes Dupont, drummer Alonzo Stewart, bassist Frank Fields and pianist Lawrence Cotton. The group earned a reputation for moving fluidly across styles. Although Blanchard contributed guitar to many recording sessions, he rarely issued material under his own name. He cut singles for Peacock in 1949 and, later in the decade, delivered a series of instrumentals for Specialty, among them the tribute “Mr Bumps,” a duet with guitarist Roy Montrell honoring the label’s A&R chief Robert “Bumps” Blackwell. In 1959 he recorded “Knocked Out” for Johnny Vincent’s Ric imprint, where he also served briefly as musical director. His last sessions, raw blues performances such as “Tight Like That” for Joe Banashak’s Minit label, were taped in the late 1960s and stayed unreleased until after his death in September 1972.