WHERE PRE-HISTORY AND POP CULTURE MEET

     Coming from a Cajun background, Warren Schexnider spoke only French until the third grade, and was often scolded by teachers for his lack of English skills. Like his father, who played in local Cajun and country-and-western bands in 1948, singing the hits of Faron Young, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell. In 1952, when he was just 15, he toured with Larry Brasso and the Rythmaires. Warren continued with the band for some years until joining Herb Landry's Serenaders, where he was further inspired by rhythm & blues. Learning from Fats Domino's drummer, Charlie "Hungry" Williams, Warren formed a band in 1956, known as the Wee-Wows (later the Jive Masters).

     It was during this time that Warren took on a new persona, taking his new last name from a famous pop-singer of the time, Gayle Storm.  By 1958 he had auditioned for and signed a contract with Crowley record producer, J.D. Miller.  This turned out to be his first major hit, "The Prisoner's Song", the flip side being, “Mama, Mama, Mama, (Look What Your Little Boy Done)". "The Prisoner's Song" shot to Billboard's Top 100 chart, peaking at #51. Other releases included "Troubles, Troubles (Troubles on My Mind)", "So Long, So Long, (Goodbye, Goodbye)", and "Birmingham Bar". In 1963 he joined with Rod Bernard and Skip Stewart to create The Shondells. Warren played back-up drums for Dale & Grace's #1 hit "I'm Leaving it up to You." With Bad Weather, he recorded several regional hits, including "Lord, I need Somebody Bad Tonight" and "My House of Memories". During the 1980's, with Cypress, Storm recorded "Things Have Gone to Pieces," and "Please, Mr. Sandman".  Around 2000, Storm joined the Lil' Band of Gold, an all-star south Louisiana band.