Zydeco

Louisiana · accordion · Creole culture · blues

Born in Southwest Louisiana. Zydeco music was created by French-speaking African Americans of Creole heritage who lived in rural areas. They mixed blues and rhythm and blues with their own traditional music to create something totally new.

Accordion is the star. The main instrument in zydeco is the accordion, which makes those fun, energetic squeezed sounds you can't help but dance to. It's the heart and soul of the music.

Washboard makes the beat. A rubboard (also called a vest frottoir or washboard) is a metal vest that people wear and scrub with sticks to create rhythm and texture. This scratching sound is just as important as the accordion.

Mixing musical styles. Zydeco blends blues music with la la and juré, which are traditional types of music from Louisiana Creoles. This mix created a whole new sound that people still love today.

Made for dancing. Zydeco has a bouncy, upbeat rhythm that makes people want to move and dance. It's joyful music that brings people together to have fun.