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Huey P. Meaux

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Huey Purvis Meaux (March 10, 1929 – April 23, 2011) was an American record producer and the owner of various record labels and recording studios, including Crazy Cajun Records, Tribe Records, Tear Drop Records, Capri Records, and SugarHill Recording Studios.[2][3][4]

Huey P. Meaux
Meaux's 1996 mugshot
Meaux's 1996 mugshot
Background information
Birth nameHuey Purvis Meaux
BornMarch 10, 1929
Wright, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedApril 23, 2011(2011-04-23) (aged 82)
Winnie, Texas, U.S.
OccupationRecord producer

Biography

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Meaux was born in Wright, Louisiana. After serving briefly in the U.S. Army, he opened a barbershop in Winnie, Texas, where he produced the swamp pop classic "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" by "Jivin'" Gene Bourgeois. He also discovered Barbara Lynn and produced her 1962 hit "You'll Lose a Good Thing".[5]

Nicknamed "The Crazy Cajun," Meaux, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the British Invasion, put together a band with Doug Sahm and the English-sounding name of the Sir Douglas Quintet, and scored a hit with "She's About a Mover". Meaux's other credits included such hits as "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" by B. J. Thomas, "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" (1975) by Freddy Fender; "You'll Lose a Good Thing" by Barbara Lynn; "Talk To Me" by Sunny & The Sunliners; and "Big Blue Diamonds" by Gene Summers.[6] He worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Copeland, T-Bone Walker, Rockin' Sidney, Lowell Fulson, Chuck Jackson, Doug Kershaw, Doug Sahm,[7] Rod Bernard, Sonny Landreth, Clifton Chenier, Little Royal, Ronnie Milsap, Mickey Gilley, Delbert McClinton, Dr. John, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Bob Wills, Lightnin' Hopkins, Tommy McLain, Joe Barry, and Johnny Winter.[8]

In 1996, a police raid of his office turned up thousands of Polaroids and videos of girls, mostly underage, in sexual situations.[5][9] Meaux pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child, a drug possession charge, a child pornography charge, and another for jumping bail and briefly fleeing to Juárez, Mexico. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison[6] and was released in 2007.[5]

In 2010, he formed the record label Freedom Express Records and released an album by Ramon Angel Solis entitled The Mexican Side of Me. Meaux died on April 23, 2011, aged 82.[5]

1966 arrest, conviction, and pardon

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Meaux's earliest arrest was in September 1966 in regard to the White-Slave Traffic Act.[10] He was not charged until January 27, 1967, and was sentenced to three years in prison. His sentence began on May 6, 1968, and he was released on June 18, 1969.[10]

Meaux claimed that in 1966 he and a business partner, Charlie Booth, were planning on attending a convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Meaux stated that at the time he and his business partner owned the rights to a singer, and they were doing quite well. Meaux claimed that he gave money to Booth so that he could travel to Nashville in an automobile and would, therefore, be able to carry necessary equipment that Meaux was unable to take with him on the commercial flight. Meaux claimed to have arrived several days before Booth to Nashville; when Booth arrived, Meaux claimed he had transported a man and a woman across state lines.[11]

Meaux stated that after he obtained a hotel in Nashville, the woman started to engage in prostitution. Meaux also claimed that when he arrived back in Houston, he found out that the woman had gotten into several illegal activities in the Houston area and, when arrested by the police, had given a confession that she had been taken to Nashville for the purpose of prostitution and that Meaux was involved.[11]

Meaux filed an appeal on his conviction on January 27, 1967, but his appeal was denied on April 30, 1968.[12]

During Meaux's second appeal, he stated his need for a pardon was because during the last twelve months his business netted him approximately $35,000, and he further expected this amount to increase in the future. He also stated that his wife had been extremely ill for the past ten to twelve years and that her condition was the reason she was living away from him in El Paso, Texas.[11]

A character affidavit was taken out during his secondary appeal; individuals who they had interviewed claimed that they felt that Meaux was wrongfully convicted and had always been an outstanding citizen. This led the County Attorney of Chambers County on May 14, 1975, to send a request to the United States Justice Department for a pardon of Meaux's conviction.[13]

Meaux's request for a pardon was approved by President Jimmy Carter on November 1, 1977.[14]

After Meaux had gotten out of prison, he claimed that he and Booth took the fall to protect a wider circle of influential figures in Houston music and radio.[15]

1996 raid of record studio, trial, and lawsuit

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An anonymous source on September 5, 1995, contacted law enforcement in Houston and informed them of illicit activities occurring in Meaux's office.[16] In January 1996, they received a letter with the writer stating that she was aware of illicit activities taking place and that Meaux had gotten her to take cocaine and sexually assaulted her during an unknown timeframe.[17]

On January 25, a search warrant was issued for Meaux's office, and an unsuccessful attempt to search was carried out that same day. The following day, a search was successful, and 180 videotapes, 1½ oz of cocaine, 25 sex toys, 3,000 photos, 1,500 nude photos, and several other items were seized.

Meaux was subsequently charged with possession of child pornography, possession of cocaine, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor with a bond of $100,000. The next day, bond was posted by EDD Blackwood Bonding Company in Houston.

On February 5, Meaux failed to appear in court, and the court ordered to Meaux's attorney that Meaux had to appear in court on February 7. Meaux proceeded to fail to appear, leading to his bond being revoked and a bounty hunter by the name of Tracey being responsible for finding his whereabouts.[17]

When Tracey first visited his home in Houston, the home was completely empty, and the phone and utilities had been cut. Following a conversation with employees of Meaux's record studio, Sugar Hill Recordings, she learned that he managed a band in Mexico and had a house in Juarez.[18]

Between January 28 and February 3, 1996, Meaux and another individual checked into a Holiday Inn, where numerous calls were made during this timeframe. When Meaux and his partner checked out of the hotel room, they used an American Express card which had been reported as lost or stolen.

It is believed that between February 3rd and 5th, Meaux and his partner stayed at a residence in El Paso.[19] Following this, they were staying at a residence in Juarez, Mexico, in a Holiday Inn. This led to the tip that subsequently led to Meaux's arrest.[18][20] On March 5, Meaux was arrested in Juarez and was transported back to the United States with charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.[21]

Following his extradition back to the United States, Meaux was charged with possession of child pornography and possession of cocaine. Later, he also received two counts of aggravated sexual assault against a minor due to victims who had come forward following his extradition.[22]

Following this, Meaux's adopted son was removed from his care and placed in the custody of Harris County Child Protective Services out of fear for his safety following individuals tied to Meaux attempting to remove him from a private school in Arizona.[22] Meaux was found to have made over 180 videotapes, taken 1,500 nude photographs, and sexually assaulted numerous young girls between the ages of 8 and 17 for at least twenty years.[23]

1996 trial and sentencing

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In court, Meaux claimed that most of the assaults at his record studio took place in a room referred to as the "playroom" behind his office. The room consisted of a king-sized bed, wall mirrors, and a doctor's examining table with stirrups. Also uncovered was 15 grams of cocaine with a cabinet of liquor, various sexual devices, and two safes also containing cocaine.[24]

On May 31, 1996, Meaux pleaded guilty to all charges and received 15 years and a day in prison. In the deal negotiated, Meaux agreed to not appeal his charges if the state agreed to not file any additional charges and to destroy all evidence of the case after 75 days.[25]

Meaux's attorney stated that Meaux hoped that by pleading guilty and accepting the punishment, he had spared any more public embarrassment for individuals involved, and he hoped that the matter could be put to rest. His attorney also concluded that the state and victims were satisfied with the deal.[24]

1996 lawsuit

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Following Meaux's extradition back to the United States, a woman named Shannon McDowell Brashar filed a lawsuit against Meaux for ten million dollars, accusing him of sexual abuse and inflicting emotional distress. Brashar claimed that Meaux sexually abused her from the ages of 9 to 16 when Meaux and her mother had split up. She also stated that at times she continued living with Meaux, where the assaults continued.

Brashar claimed that Meaux had used illegal drugs to get her to submit to his assaults. She also claimed that Meaux had gotten others to assault and then further photograph and videotape the acts.[26][25]

On May 28th, Brashar settled the suit in an undisclosed settlement.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pareles, Jon (November 22, 1999). "Doug Sahm, Musical Voice of Texas, Dies at 58". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Producer Huey P. Meaux Dies" Chron.com Archived 2015-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "A Guide to the Huey Meaux Papers, 1940–1994". Texas Archival Resources Online.
  4. ^ "Huey P. Meaux Was the Crazy Cajun". The Rag Blog. September 22, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Corcoran, Michael (April 24, 2011). "'Crazy Cajun,' a pioneering music producer, dies; career tarnished by child sex crimes". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 302. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
  7. ^ Huey Moe Papers Retrieved November 16, 2021
  8. ^ Huey P Meaux interview Retrieved October 29, 2021
  9. ^ "Music producer had several hits". Los Angeles Times. April 27, 2011. p. AA7 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356440.pdf". Google Docs. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  11. ^ a b c "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356439.pdf". Google Docs. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  12. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356439.pdf". Google Docs. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  13. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356439.pdf". Google Docs. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  14. ^ "Office of the Pardon Attorney | Pardons Granted by President Jimmy Carter (1977 - 1981)". www.justice.gov. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  15. ^ Mitchell, Rick (February 4, 1996). "Meaux". Houston Chronicle. p. 23.
  16. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356438.pdf". Google Docs. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  17. ^ a b "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356438.pdf". Google Docs. p. 23. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  18. ^ a b Teachey, Lisa (March 7, 1996). "Tracking a Fugitive". Houston Chronicle. p. 5.
  19. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356438.pdf". Google Docs. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  20. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356438.pdf". Google Docs. p. 31. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  21. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356438.pdf". Google Docs. p. 33. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  22. ^ a b Teachey, Lisa; Bradwell, S.K. (March 6, 1996). "Meaux". Houston Chronicle. p. 12A (10).
  23. ^ "Ea8cdaf6b41c3dadc9e23febfd0c834cd730ae03126b885da35_Q235667_R454988_D165356438.pdf". Google Docs. p. 38. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  24. ^ a b Liebrum, Jennifer (June 1, 1996). "Meaux". Houston Chronicle. p. 13.
  25. ^ a b c Liebrum, Jennifer (June 1, 1996). "Meaux pleads guilty to all charges, gets 15 years". Houston Chronicle. p. 12.
  26. ^ Flynn, George (February 2, 1996). "Woman sues producer, alleging years of abuse". Houston Chronicle.
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