Zydeco is a form of
folk music, originated in the beginning of the
20th century among the
French-speaking Cajuns of
Louisiana. It is dominated by the
accordion and also includes
horns and the electric
bass guitar. The music arose as a synthesis of more traditional Cajun music with
R&B and
blues.
Armad Ardoin made the first recordings of zydeco in
1928, and the music was finally brought to the fringes of the
American mainstream in the mid-
1950s, with the popularity of
Clifton Chenier and
Boozoo Chavis.
Rockin' Sidney's surprise hit "My Toot Toot" launched a revival of zydeco in the mid-
1980s.
The word "zydeco" comes from the bastardization of a song, "L'Haricots Sont Pas Sals".
