Jerry Woodard

Jerry Eugene Woodard was born in Anniston, Alabama on May 25, 1941. His father was a minister who did not approve of rock ‘n roll and tried to steer the kids away from the "devil’s music". Jerry formed the Esquires consisting of Dinky Harris on guitar, Doc Watson on bass, Barry Beckett on piano, Ronnie Eads on sax, and Johnny Carter on drums. Moving his family to Pensacola in 1961, Jerry played the Sahara Club there for two years. Following this success, he then started Jerry Woodard’s Cock Rouge club which burned to the ground devastating Jerry financially. Friends helped him start another club two weeks later and the Flaming Cock Rouge club flourished with Jerry performing to huge crowds until an IRS audit left Jerry in financial ruin once again. At this point, in 1967 Jerry and his family moved back to Birmingham and with help from brother Wayne released a record on the Chantain label. In 1968, he also had some success with a soul-flavored record on the Chant label. Jerry died on August 9, 1980 from the toll his body had taken from the many years of performing – lack of sleep, hectic schedules, and the health effects caused by alcohol and drugs needed to keep up with such a life.