Johnny Rebel is seen around the world as the forerunner of hate-core music. He is known for his racially charged songs. Known as Pee Wee Trahan, the white supremacist was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter.
He was best known in the 60s – 80s and inspired the formation of over 500 hate rock bands around the world. Assuming that his music has no place till date may be wrong, as the United States still grapples with racial differences.
Almost all of Johnny’s songs are described as a segregated delight. Johnny Rebel’s Klassic Klan Kompositions (KKK) is no. 2 seller on Resistance Records white supremacy list. Next to the Ethnic Cleansing Video Game.
Johnny Rebel Biography
Johnny Rebel’s real name is Clifford Joseph Trahan. “Johnny Rebel” was his professional segregationist identity. He was born on September 25, 1938 in Moss Bluff, Louisiana, USA. His parents were Homer Trahan and Elizabeth Breaux Taylor. After their divorce, Johnny moved with his mother to Crowley.
Growing up, he enjoyed listening to Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. Supporting what seems like an obvious potential talent, his mother, who he remembers earning $14 a week, gave him his first guitar worth $17 when he was 12 years old.
In 1956 he graduated from high school. A musically talented young Cajun, Johnny began by doing covers of other people’s songs. Looking for a break, he moved from Lousiana to Nashville, where he lived briefly and eventually returned home when things didn’t go as he had hoped.
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Back home, Johnny began spending time with JD Miller at his popular studio. Miller, who owns Reb Rebel Records in Crowley, had heard him sing and was interested in his talent; therefore began to nurture his musical skills. While recording with Miller, he switched to the world famous ‘Johnny Rebel’.
His songs, which he insists were just his opinions at the time, were downright racist and targeted African Americans. Johnny Rebel has recorded songs such as For a Document, Nigger, Nigger, Some Negroes Never Die (Smell Like That), in Coontown, and Kajun Ku Klux Klan. His style has been divided into several categories: Country, Rockabilly, Honky Tonk and Outlaw Country. Four of his songs were included in a 1971 compilation album titled For Segregationists Only.
Johnny’s glory died out a little later. He went on hiatus for 3 decades; leading to the use of another pseudonym to sing. He made country songs and wrote songs for other stars. He reportedly wrote Jimmy C. Newman’s hit song Lache Pas la Patate and co-wrote Johnnie Allan’s South of Louisiana
Contrary to the controversies raised by his early days, Johnny said he had good reason for making such “seemingly racist” songs. Usually, the Louisiana singer said he couldn’t care less about anyone’s skin color. However, he says he had a problem with their attitude which aimed negatively at white people. According to him, black people had never really forgotten their harsh history and, as such, detached themselves from their relationship with white people.
He also admitted that the resentment goes both ways. His views were addressed in a 2015 Canadian documentary Acadie noir et blanc. According to him, he dared to speak to the spirit of many around him at the time. Likewise, his harsh racist views have faded over time. Johnny Rebel retired in 1985, but still performs occasionally. He died in September 2016 in Rayne, Louisiana.
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Rebel Family life
Johnny Rebel was married once. He was with his wife Ann for 56 years and father of four children: Raye, Randal, Rhonda and Rhett. Johnny is skeptical of being in the public eye. As a result, there are very few family details and images available to the media. The late country musician reportedly handed over his driving school to his son in 2008.
Quick Facts About Johnny Rebel
1. Johnny was born, raised and died in Louisiana;
2. He died twenty-two days after his 78th birthday;
3. His name, Johnny Rebel, is often misidentified as the pseudonym of David Allan Coe.
4. Similarly, some of his songs have also been mistakenly considered to be those of Buddy Holly and Johnny Horton;
5. He was proudly a white supremacist country musician.
