is a form of Folk Music , originated in the beginning of the 20th Century among the Francophone Creole People s of south-west Louisiana and influenced by the music of the French-speaking Cajun s. It is heavily Syncopated , usually fast-tempo, and dominated by the button or piano Accordion and a form of a Washboard known as a ''rub-board'' or Frottoir ; usually accompanied by Guitar , Bass Guitar and Drums ;
The music arose as a synthesis of Traditional Cajun Music with African-American traditions that also underpinned R&B and Blues . It was known as "la-la"; "zodico" and various other names. Amédé Ardoin made the first recordings of what later became known as zydeco in 1928 . The music was finally brought to the fringes of the American mainstream in the mid- 1950s , with the popularity of Beau Jocque , Clifton Chenier and Boozoo Chavis . Rockin' Sidney 's surprise hit "My Toot Toot" launched a revival of zydeco in the mid- 1980s , carried further by the international fame of Buckwheat Zydeco . Young zydeco musicians, such as Chubby Carrier , CJ Chenier and Rosie LeDet began emerging in the early 1990s .
The word "zydeco" is often said to have originated from the French ''les haricots'' meaning "the beans" from the song, "Les Haricots sont pas salés", literally "The beans aren't salted", a reference to the singer being too poor to afford salt pork to season the beans. Others dispute this derivation, considering it derogatory. Some think the name "zodico" has roots in an African language and probably refers to a dance-form.
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