Duke Bardwell was born in Baton Rouge and raised on a heady brew of big band music and regional country fare, mixed with legends like Hank Williams and Roy Acuff.

Bardwell can’t remember a time when he wasn’t into music.

“Music was always around when I was growing up,” He said. “I started (playing) guitar when I was seven, and trumpet in the fifth grade.

Bardwell was “probably 13” when he fronted his first garage band ”Duke and the Losers,” and was still in high school when he went on his first road trip, as a sideman for Lenny Capello and the Dots.

Later, he was a member of the Greek Fountains, which had several regional hits. That led to a move north to New York, playing bass for folksinger Tom Rush — a two-year stint that was another watermark in Bardwell’s musical development. During that time, Bardwell performed on shows with people like James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jackson Browne, and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Bardwell moved back south after two years, and eventually was lured back to Baton Rouge to form a band called Cold Grits and Black Eyed Peas, which was signed with Ode Records. Bardwell wrote most of the material for the first album, but the band dissolved before the album was released.

“A golden opportunity was blown,” he says.

Bardwell moved to Los Angeles, where he joined old friend Casey Kelly as an opening act for Loggins and Messina. Later, he played bass for Jose Feliciano, which led to Bardwell’s introduction to Elvis Presley’s drummer, Ron Tutt.

Bardwell was then hired by Elvis to play bass — a gig which lasted almost two years.

“It was a handful,” he says.

Bardwell also has toured with Gene Clark of the Byrds.

In 1984, he moved to Florida to work in the restaurant industry — and music was laid aside for about ten years. Then he met local performer Franko “Washboard” Jackson, and rediscovered the joy of music. They went on to form the band Hubba Hubba.

“He talked me into playing again for fun,” he said. “And music got to be happy again.”