Biography of Louis Marcotte, Jr. Jefferson, Louisiana Submitted by N.O.V.A. July 2005 Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ Louis Marcotte Jr., 81, Comedian, Musician Louis Marion Marcotte Jr., a retired longshoreman and Cajun comedian, songwriter, vocalist and guitar player, died Tuesday at West Jefferson Medical Center. He was 81. He was born in Moreauville and lived in Gretna for the past 48 years. Mr. Marcotte, who performed under the name Marion Marcotte, wrote his first song at 14 and bought his first guitar with money he earned picking cotton. He began his show business career as a French-language storyteller and comedian, spinning tales about country life on radio stations. He went on to write more than 300 songs and record more than 40 records. He also wrote campaign songs for political candidates and a jingle for "Whataburger." Cajun musician Allen Fontenot said Mr. Marcotte had a following across south Louisiana and was known for his homespun comic style. A typical Marcotte joke was about a mother-in-law making coffee "so weak, even the pot fainted." Fontenot said Mr. Marcotte had a down-to-earth personality that matched his public persona. "He was always the life of the party, telling jokes," he said. Mr. Marcotte was nominated this month to the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum, family members said. He was a member of the Cajun French Music Association and received the President's Award from Le Cajun and an award from the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. He was a Marine Corps and Navy veteran and a member of the William D. White Masonic Lodge in Gretna and the International Longshoremen's Association. Survivors include his wife, Rita Spera Marcotte; a son, Louis Marion Marcotte III; two daughters, Lori Maria Marcotte and Lisa Mona Marcotte Duhon; and two grandchildren. A Mass will be said today at 2 p.m. at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 West Bank Expressway, Harvey. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park in Gretna. Source: Times Picayune 01- 23-1998