Zydeco Country

tagStarted 1950sPeak 1980s-1990sLast big hit 2000sFrom Louisiana, United StatesSung in Louisiana French

Located in 1 route

Country & Western → International / Regional Country

Black Creole Louisiana's accordion music with a country crossover edge: piano accordion and rubboard (frottoir) driving a bluesy two-step, sometimes covering country standards or pairing with country artists. Hot, syncopated dance grooves with a country narrative streak, sung in Creole French and English.

History

Clifton Chenier, the 'King of Zydeco,' codified the genre in the 1950s-60s, blending Creole la-la, blues and R&B. The style brushed against country through shared dancehall culture and crossover acts; Buckwheat Zydeco and Rockin' Sidney pushed it to wider audiences, with Sidney's 'My Toot Toot' becoming a country and pop crossover hit in 1985.

Defining artists

Clifton ChenierSpotify YouTube
Buckwheat ZydecoSpotify YouTube
Rockin' SidneySpotify YouTube
Boozoo ChavisSpotify YouTube
Queen IdaSpotify YouTube
Beau JocqueSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

My Toot Toot — Rockin' SidneySpotify YouTube
Ya Ya — Buckwheat ZydecoSpotify YouTube
Paper in My Shoe — Boozoo ChavisSpotify YouTube
Zydeco Sont Pas Salés — Clifton ChenierSpotify YouTube
Give Him Cornbread — Beau JocqueSpotify YouTube

← Explore Country & Western

Sources

Wikipedia: Clifton Chenier
Country Roads Magazine: The History of Cajun Music
americana-uk: 10 top Cajun/zydeco tracks