WHERE PRE-HISTORY AND POP CULTURE MEET

     Alton James Hulin began his musical career at age 14 when he recorded a single entitled "Many Lonely Nights." In 1959, he founded the Lonely Knights Band and the following year he recorded "I'm Not A fool Anymore." The song was released on the LK label, owned jointly by T.K.'s father and Robert Thibodeaux, a local songwriter. In 1964, Hulin formed a 12-piece band that included Edgar Winters, who traveled from Beaumont and stayed at Hulin's home on the weekends. 

     In 1964, at age 20, Hulin's big hit, "Not A Fool Anymore," was released nationally and climbed to #25 on the National Billboard chart. The record, written by Hulin's High School music teacher, Robert Thibodeaux, went silver, selling over a half million copies. His other hit recording, "As You Pass Me By" better known as "Graduation Night" was recorded in 1964 and sold over 150,000 copies.

     A self-taught singer, Hulin never learned to read music and never wrote a song, but proudly insists that "he sings from the heart." When Hulin first started singing in the sixties, he looked up to such stars as Otis Redding, James Brown and Tom Jones. For over 40 years, Hulin has been packing fans into various nightclubs throughout South Louisiana from Alexandria to New Iberia to Port Arthur. He still performs and is often requested to sing the French version of "Jolie Blonde" at local clubs. 

     Besides an entertainment career, Hulin and his wife, Colleen, own and operate the famed Yellow Bowl Restaurant in Jeaneratte.  A dedicated and religious person, Hulin continues to give benefit concerts for organizations such as Muscular Dystrophy and Toys for Tots.