Women are few and far between as zydeco performers. The most famous woman band leader in zydeco is Louisiana-born, California-based Queen Ida Guillory, but there’s also Rosie Ledet, Donna Angelle, and Jennifer Frank (who plays bass in brother Keith’s band) and Lake Charles native Ann Goodly. Read more.
From 2008 to 2011 Louisiana artists were given special attention at the GRAMMY Awards with their own Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album category. A dozen bands were nominated during that time, including Lost Bayou Ramblers for Live: Á La Blue Moon in 2008, Cedric Watson for his self-titled record in 2009 and Pine Leaf Boys a record four times. Read more.
After recording the first hit song for zydeco in 1954 with “Paper In My Shoe,” Boozoo Chavis left his musical career in favor of horse training. That is, until the eighties when he picked up his accordion again. American Routes’ Nick Spitzer met Chavis in 1989 at the Zydeco Festival in Plaisance, LA and recorded the following interview. Read more.
Nick Spitzer of American Routes joined Queen Ida at her home near San Francisco for this interview segment from 2001. Read more.
Nick Spitzer, host of American Routes on WWNO in Louisiana, sat down with the late and legendary zydeco artist Beau Jocque in this archival interview from 1998. Read more.