Zydeco is a form of folk music, American peoples of south-west Louisiana and influenced by the music of the French speaking Cajuns. It is dominated by the accordian and rub-board washboard; sometimes including drums; guitar; horns and bass guitar. The music arose as a synthesis of more traditional Cajun music with R&B and blues. It was known as "la-la"; "zodico" and various other names. Amede Ardoin made the first recordings of what later became known as zydeco in 1928. The music was finally brought to the fringes of the American mainstream in the mid-1950"s, with the popularity of Clifton Chanier and BooZoo Chavis. Rocking Sidney's surprise hit "My Toot Toot" launched a revival of zydeco in the mid-1980's, carried further by the international fame of Buckwheat Zydeco.

The word "zydeco" is said to come from the song, "Les Haricots Sont Pas Sals". Haricot being a French word for Green beans. The title means "The beans aren't salty", a reference to the singer being too poor to afford salt pork to season the beans

 

 

Links to Zydeco Artists 

Buckwheat Zydeco

Beau Jocque

Chubby Carrier

 Clifton Chennier

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