Houma, Louisiana
The road leading to the house with the most fantastic lights is a wavy and winding one. The bayou that one follows is not so blue, but where does the name come from? One does not have a clue. Roald Dahl quotes, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it." Do you believe in magic?
Entering into the home of Frank and Tammy Chaisson, one gets the welcome of many beautiful American Indian statues and collections that one would see in any American Indian home from across the country. This home was really special as, the collection of trophies and a beautifully painted American Indian fan on top of the mantle. Gorgeous in color and attractive to the eyes, I could not help but compliment it after seeing it even though there were so many amazing conversation pieces all around the room. The love and appreciation for all living things were present here, too. There were sounds of cats and doves and friendly dogs that were there before entering the door. It is a happy home of those who want to make the world a more joyful place.
Frank and Tammy met at a gym from the yesteryears on Grand Caillou Road. Frank was working as a personal trainer and Tammy was a newcomer to the gym. From those moments on, they would never be apart. They were hot shot truck drivers together, bodybuilding competitors, and now entertainers. Frank kept to his dream while Tammy always tried chasing after hers, but Frank would always find a way to embrace his, and they would embrace it together. I sat down with Frank and Tammy, owners of Magical Entertainment by Frank and Tammy, to get to know about their accomplishments together.
Sitting still, one could hear the peacefulness of the Native American flute being played on the stereo system. It was perhaps Frank’s own Native American flute music. I met Frank and Tammy at Louisiana’s First Indigenous Day event, where I had asked them to play. One does not get the chance to hear a Native American flute live or to hear it on an annual basis. It is a really special piece and like Tammy said, “A sound that’ll take you to a different level.” That is just what we needed at our annual event and the flute’s uniqueness muffled the world out and one sees spirits dancing of our ancestors from long ago. Frank and Tammy are yearly travelers to the Smoky Mountains and one year, Tammy bought Frank the flute that he had been hoping for. He had it on his mantle for about three years and one day an interviewer from Native Peoples Magazine interviewed Frank and encouraged him to start playing. Soon he would get a call from a church member, and Frank had his first gig at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Pointe-Aux-Chenes for their annual Kateri Tekakwitha Mass, “The Lily of the Mohawks” and the first and only Native American Saint. Frank had about three months to prepare for this special mass and he did not know if he was prepared. He showed up and performed and said so many people complimented him. He continued playing for the church whenever they needed him, the songs of the Cherokee “Amazing Grace.”
One of Frank’s mottos is that if you have a dream to see it through, like the song “Follow that Dream” by Elvis Presley. Frank has had his share of heartaches and accidents, but that never let him down. Becoming a professional competitor in bodybuilding, Frank wanted to compete before his 60th birthday. Recently, a terrible accident occurred and now Frank is taking some time off to care for his health. Frank competed in a number of competitions and the trophies in the room resembled how many in all. Frank’s determination has always been strong to reach for the top of the ranks and for the majority of his career, he was able to achieve it. His favorite competition of all was the all-natural competition where only natural supplements were allowed. He was 4th place in that competition and for a man that does not settle for second, and the oldest man in the competition, that was good enough for him. Tammy and Frank both explained that if one was to train and bodybuild, the all-natural way would be the way to achieve these results. Tammy even competed and was amazed how she was in her 50’s and outranked two 30 - something year olds. What an achievement to be proud about! She explained that because she has always been fit, that she is now the only person in her family that does not have cholesterol problems. Tammy's motto has always been, "You are never too old to do what you love."
Frank mentions about growing up in a poor but loving community and when he sought after bigger dreams, Luke 4:24 has always been a scripture he has lived by and it explains how prophets will not be accepted in his hometown. Frank remembers every time he would tell someone he was competing in a professional bodybuilding competition, they would ask why he was doing so. Then he would come back with the biggest trophy one could ever receive. Frank has tried to help Tammy reach for her dreams. He said how she would get started and in the middle of it all she would stop. He said as for him, he wanted to become a professional bodybuilder, and he did it. He wanted to become a Native American flute player, and he did it, he wanted to create his own Native American flute songs on a CD, and he did it, and he wanted to become a magician, and he did it.
I wanted to know where all this strength that Frank possesses, Tammy said that Frank’s dad was always careful with him. He taught Frank and made him a part of a project. Frank said, “My dad taught me how to read a map, and when me and Tammy went on our first road trip, I gave the map to her. I thought everyone could read a map.” Tammy and I laughed, and she mentioned she did not know what to do with it. Always caring for one another and showing love was a very big part of Frank’s childhood. Frank grew up down Isle de Jean Charles, the eroding bayou community that was once paradise to many members of the Chaisson family. Frank said, “I would tell mommy and daddy I was going ride my bike and they did not have any worries, they knew that wherever I was, someone would feed me.” Tammy admired Mrs. Enola, Frank’s mom, and how she would have a huge lunch prepared for the family every day by 10 o’ clock. She said breakfast, lunch, and dinner was always prepared. Tammy explaining how different her mom was from Mrs. Enola was like night and day. Tammy and Frank’s mom both did not have a high school education, but they each wore their confidence differently. Mrs. Enola would talk to anyone like she would know them and Tammy’s mom was worried because she did not have that education, kind of like how Frank and Tammy are with each other today. Frank’s first language was Cajun French and while he still knows it, he said everyone he spoke to has gone away. He lets Tammy speak and that is how they like it.
Frank often does not take life too seriously. He seems to bring the light out of the hard times. One could find Frank mentioning something that at one moment was not so funny, but then turn it around and make it something one could smile about.
Reoccurrences of long ago still happen to Frank. He remembers being in the first Native American class to attend Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School and that a lot of fights happened there due to the parish getting rid of segregation. People were mean and hateful because he was different and from the island. Sadly, those hurtful teachings are still being passed on today. I have heard a counselor once say, “We always seem to have a repetition of some sort that happens to all of us.” I guess it is life’s weird moments, like one time, Frank heard the music director of his local church ask if there was anyone interested in the music ministries, to come and speak to him. Well, Frank made the approach, but the music director was not interested in Frank’s Native American flute music. So, since then he has never offered his services. They have extended their services to the local library. Instead, the library settled for a business from out of town, and the library has yet to show interest in Frank and Tammy’s business. Frank and Tammy did have a great turnout for the recent Southland Mall event and has a good feeling they will be back again.
Frank says how race divides us. He also mentions that when someone asks him which tribe he belongs to, it should not be of importance, and he says, “I am on the fence about it.” Frank misses the happy days and that any notion of race or tribe acknowledgement just tears us more apart. Frank and Tammy enjoy the smiles and good times that they can bring to children's faces. They said that is why they love their job because they are like kids themselves. As we walked outside and said our goodbyes, I was greeted with the cutest little animal of all, a white little bunny. I said, “Hey, look, a bunny! That’s the magician’s signature trick. The bunny that comes out of the hat!
Frank and Tammy have been full-time children's entertainers since April 1997. Their shows consist of magic, face painting, balloon art, and puppetry. They are award winners in face painting and balloon art.
Frank is the 2014 PNBA Pro Master's Universe Champion, 3 times national champion, and an NGA and PNBA pro bodybuilder.
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