Louisiana
Westbank band The Falcons inducted into Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
A band from the Westbank now holds a spot on a list with Louisiana music icons.
The Falcons, a band that began in 1957, was inducted last Monday night into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. They joined such icons as Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Buddy Guy and others.
The Falcons formed in an era when the Baton Rouge area had an abundance of recording studios, and AM radio stations, such as WLCS and WIBR, would play local songs.
The presentation was recorded on the “Baton Rouge Live Music” program, which is found on YouTube.
Maringouin native Donald “Duck” Militello, 73, his brother C.J., 73, and Leroy “Rocky” Jarreau, 77, accepted the award on behalf of their fellow performers who have since died.
“My dad was a musician, and his dream was to have his sons play music,” Donald Militello said.
He and his brothers were sons of a cotton farmer in Frogmore, at the southernmost end of Pointe Coupee Parish. They used school instruments to learn music.
“My two brothers joined the school band – my brother C.J. had a sax that had pads that were leaking and he had to put rubber bands on the keys to make them open and close,” Militello said. “My brother Nunzio, who is deceased, came home with a trumpet, and pulled cylinders out of the valves and knocked knots out of it to make it open and close.”
They picked up songs they heard on radio.
After being kicked out of the band for teaching fellow students how to play music by ear, their father took them to Baton Rouge to a downtown music store. He came home with a sax, a trumpet and two sets of drums, Militello said.
“We were rehearsing one time on the front porch because Mom would run us out the house, and it sounded like a flock of geese squeaking,” he said.
One Saturday morning, they were asked to play for a family wedding in Maringouin at the community center.
“We knew about seven songs – all instrumentals,” Militello said. “We played them all day long.”
The songs included “Red River Rock,” “Red Sails in Sunset” and “Honky Tonk.”
Wilson Angelle was the original vocalist/guitar player for the band.
The sax case on the side of the stage was full of money by the end of the reception.
“That was our first paying gig,” Militello said.
They recorded “High School Ring” on the SAL Records label, based in Maringouin, in 1964.
The Falcons are an ideal group for the Hall of Fame honor, said Mike Shepherd, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame founder.
“This Hall of Fame is not limited to only the biggest of the big,” he said. “My vision is to celebrate good people from good groups, and make the rest of them want to be in it.”
Donald and C.J. Militello, along with with Jarreau, continue to perform weekend gigs on a regular basis.
“The music is just a part of us” Donald Militello said.
“It’s all we know and what we are, and we do it because we love it – we eat, breathe and sleep it, and then get up the next day and do it again.”
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Calcasieu Correctional Center booking report for Jan. 3, 2026.
- Dalana Nicole Mouton, 26, Lake Charles: Domestic abuse aggravated assault.
- Tayshan George Ardoin, 17, Lake Charles: Obstruction of justice; Resisting an officer by flight; Resisting an officer by refusal to ID; Illegal carrying of weapons; Unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
- Aaron Dewaine Wallace, 19, Houston, TX: Domestic abuse battery.
- Wyatt Inselmann, 19, Carlock, IL: Operating while intoxicated; third offense; Careless operation; Restrictions as to tire equipment; No seat belt.
- Jocelyn Gomez, 29, Houston, TX: Domestic abuse battery; Child endangerment.
- Rebecca Renee Perdue, 40, Sulphur: Instate detainer.
- Gerronta Demoine Lambert, 18, Lake Charles: Simple robbery.
- Traelyn Dquann Campbell, 29, Lake Charles: Turning movements and required signals; Stop signs and yield signs; 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; 2 counts of obstruction of justice; Operating vehicle while license is suspended.
Copyright 2026 KPLC. All rights reserved.
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
18-21-40-53-60, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
0-9-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
3-0-6-9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
8-7-5-3-0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Easy 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
12-18-20-29-34
Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
01-14-18-20-27-41
Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
9-7-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
9-0-5-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
3-3-8-8-8
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Milwaukee fatal shootings Sunday; 2 dead, 1 in custody
Atlanta weather: Foggy Monday morning, warming trend ahead
Icy Roads Expected Across Twin Cities As Freezing Rain, Sleet Move In
Colts fans react to Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen keeping their jobs: ‘What an embarrassing joke’
Steeler, voted the cutest TSA dog in America, stars in downloadable calendar
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Dan Bongino officially leaves FBI deputy director role after less than a year, returns to ‘civilian life’
Hundreds march in silence to honour Crans-Montana fire victims
Here’s a partial list of U.S. elected officials opposing Trump’s invasion of Venezuela
Crans Montana organises solemn march for the victims • FRANCE 24 English
Kamala Harris blasts Trump administration’s capture of Venezuela’s Maduro as ‘unlawful and unwise’
-
Entertainment1 week agoHow the Grinch went from a Yuletide bit player to a Christmas A-lister
-
World7 days agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
Indianapolis, IN1 week agoIndianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
-
Southeast1 week agoTwo attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
-
Business1 week agoGoogle is at last letting users swap out embarrassing Gmail addresses without losing their data
-
World1 week agoBest of 2025: Top five defining moments in the European Parliament
-
World1 week agoSnoop Dogg, Lainey Wilson, Huntr/x and Andrea Bocelli Deliver Christmas-Themed Halftime Show for Netflix’s NFL Lions-Vikings Telecast
-
News1 week agoDOJ says it may need a ‘few more weeks’ to finish releasing Epstein files