Where when and how did this form of music originate and who is credited with it's beginnings?

Question

The form of music spoken of above is Zydeco or Zydego. I've seen it spelled both ways. Which is the correct spelling?

Answer 1

'Les Haricots Ne Sont Pas Sale' - when you speak these words, "les haricots" sounds like "zydeco". This song is believed to be the first Zydeco recording.

The first zydeco recordings were made by Amad Ardoin in 1928. In the 1950s, Clifton Chenier and Boozoo Chavis made it more popular and danceable. Modern greats like Beau Jocque, Buckwheat Zydeco, CJ Chenier and Rockin' Dopsie brought in electric instruments and horns to liven the sound.

Answer 2

Zydeco is great danceable music, usually led by a keyboard/accordian player, with emphasis on rhythm, often by use of a rubboard (or washboard) that is used as a percussive instrument. Much of it is sung in French and the dominant players are multi-ethnic Creoles. It's been native to rural Louisiana, like it's "cousin" music, Cajun.
Some of the leading bands are:
Buckwheat Zydeco
Clifton Chenier & The Red Hot Band
Rosie Ledet
Boozoo Chavis
Amade Ardoin
Lawrence "Black" Ardoin & The French Zydeco Band

It's generally a very happy sounding music...hope you like to dance, because it's hard not to.

Answer 3

Zodico is another common spelling, of this folk music of southwest Louisiana. Contrary to what is stated in some of the answers, it was NOT created by the descendants of the french acadians thrown out of Canada by the English, that is cajun music. It is BLACK music. One theory is that the name comes from a mishearing of the word haricot in the song "Les Haricots Sont Pas Sale" (The snap beans aren't salty). With the possible exception of Bluegrass and Jazz music, it is almost impossible to determine the originators of traditional American music forms. However, it is clear that this music developed sometime around the early 1900s among the rural black communities of Louisiana's bayous and praries. Listen to some Amedee Ardoin for some examples of the earliest recorded examples of what became known as Zydeco. (although he recorded an amalgam of both black and white music) Good Luck!

Answer 4

According to Wikipedia, Zydeco is the correct spelling.

Zydeco is a form of American roots or folk music, that evolved from the jure during the late 1800s call and response vocal music of the black and multiracial French speaking Creoles of south and southwest Louisiana.

Answer 5

Zydeco..French/Cajun..don't know about the origins..but an accordion,bass and drums always seem to enter the picture..Clifton Chenier was my entry into this form of music..N'Awlins the place to hear it..2 Aussies escaping the 2000 Sydney Olympics..getting off the beaten track..you gotta Dance!..you can't help yourself..."Hold That Tiger"..o yeah..you can even check out Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows from Melbourne,Australia just as funky as all get out doing this music of Happiness...Ya gotta love it,man.

Answer 6

Spelled Zydeco. For the history of it look up Cajun/Creole music in Lousiana. Preferably the city of New Orleans look for answers.

Answer 7

Its "Zydeco". It originated with the "Cajuns" of Lousiana. Now its very popular there. It has French and French-Canadian origins.

Answer 8

its is a cajun / creole thing from the southern states like louisiana where settlers from french acadia (acadians or cajuns) came to live and give us great food and "interesting" music