Named for a Louisiana swamp fish, the Bluerunners are essentially a Cajun rock & roll group; except when they play traditional Cajun music, or the blues, or funk. They seem to defy any attempt to pigeonhole their music. They have been likened to Los Lobos, except the language they sing in is French instead of Spanish.

A look at the... [+] Read More

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Although perhaps more R&B than jazz, one of the most distinctive features of the New Orleans musical landscape is the ritual observance of Mardi Gras and St. Joseph's Day by the so-called Mardi Gras Indians. The tradition of African-Americans masqued in feathers has been traced back as far as the 18th century, but the organization of marching... [+] Read More

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Boozoo Chavis (born: Wilson Anthony Chavis) was one of the pioneers of zydeco, the Cajun and blues hybrid originating in southwest Louisiana. Although his self-composed 1954 single, "Paper in My Shoes," was the first zydeco hit, Chavis was distrustful of the music industry and refused to perform publicly or record again until 1984. In an... [+] Read More

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Contemporary zydeco's most popular performer, accordionist Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural was the natural successor to the throne vacated by the death of his mentor Clifton Chenier; infusing his propulsive party music with strains of rock and R&B, his urbanized sound -- complete with touches of synthesizer and trumpet -- married traditional and... [+] Read More

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A torch-bearer for the classic zydeco traditions personified by Clifton Chenier, Fernest Arceneaux earned the title "The New Prince of Accordion" for his virtuosic prowess. Born August 27, 1940 to a large sharecropping family based in Lafayette, Louisiana, he first picked up his brother-in-law's accordion while working the fields as a child, and... [+] Read More

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John Delafose and his band the Eunice Playboys bridged the gap between zydeco's roots and its contemporary sound with a mastery matched by few of their peers; despite an affinity for early Creole styles, French lyrics and two-step waltz rhythms, they played with all of the fiery intensity demanded by modern-day audiences, tapping into a wide... [+] Read More

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Nathan Abshire helped bring the blues and honky tonk to Cajun music and repopularized the accordion with his recordings during the 1950s and '60s, but still never managed to make a living from his music. Born in Gueyden, LA, on June 23, 1913, Abshire began playing professionally in the 1920s, and he first recorded in the early '30s with Happy... [+] Read More

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One bridge between traditional Zydeco music and more modern influences has been provided by accordionist and vocalist, Willis Prudhomme. The leader of his own band, since the early '70s, Prudhomme received his greatest exposure when he and his band were invited to perform in the 1993 film, Passion Fish.

The brother of Charles... [+] Read More

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