Pyook: A Nickname for Legacy

Born on June 26, 1960, Albert Berard grew up in South Louisiana listening to Cajun music and had sought to follow in the footsteps of his culture at a young age. By eleven years old, Berard had begun to play the guitar and had an enduring interest in pursuing music. While attending Cecilia Senior High School, he was a member of the school’s concert band and was also the lead guitarist in a rock band he founded. Albert would go on to found a new band after graduating, known as the The Basin Brothers Band (since its members were from the Atchafalaya Basin area). Playing country, traditional, and Cajun music throughout the United States and Europe, The Basin Brothers Band worked to preserve Cajun music while also earning Berard a lot of success.

While Berard’s musical talents were seeded early within him, the Cajun-French culture as a whole had an impact on him beyond music. An early example of this is Albert Berard’s nickname, “Pyook”. According to Berard himself when asked by Barry Jean Ancelet, he was given the name in his youth when working the fields with his father. When asked by Ancelet what exactly the name meant, he stated that “he couldn’t say and it was just what he was called”. Another way in which the Cajun culture of Berard’s day influenced him was in that of his faith. He was a lifelong parishioner of the St. Joseph Catholic Church and citizen of Cecilia.

Tragically, this church is also where Berard’s funeral services were held. On February 26, 2014 Berard passed away after suffering an aneurysm and was buried on March 1, 2014. Pyook’s legacy did not die with him however. His family started the Al Berard Memorial Music Fund, which “supports community organizations that promote our rich Cajun/Creole heritage, arts, music, and French language”. There is also an annual Al Berard music festival, usually hosted in Arnaudville or Henderson. This music fund and the festival are both organized by Berard’s family, particularly his daughters.

Two of Pyook’s daughters, Laura B. Huval and Maegan Berard, as well as their first cousin Callie Guidry continue his legacy by playing music in their own band called Sweet Cecilia. Much like Pyook himself, this band plays a combination of traditional, country, and Cajun music. In 2015, Louisiana State Representative Mike Huval passed a resolution to dedicate a portion of the Cecilia Sr. H South Hwy to Albert “Pyook” Berard. On Halloween day in 2015, at the dedication ceremony, Sweet Cecilia performed “La Louisiane”, a song written by Berard. From family to politicians, Pyook’s music and personality would inspire others to pursue great things in his name. Although Albert could never explain what his nickname Pyook actually meant, it seems apparent that for others, it had something to do with memories and a legacy that would live on.

Albert's original of "Dans La Louisiane" can be heard here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPLob9i99Z4