Music of Louisiana - Southern Region

Southern Region

This area is often called Cajun country or Acadiana, but only using this term excludes minority groups, including African Americans who are critical to the cultural/musical identity. Four main musical genres are indigenous to this area - Creole music (i.e. zydeco), swamp blues, swamp pop and Cajun music. These historically-rooted genres, with unique rhythms and personalities, have been transformed with modern sounds and instruments. The southwestern and south central Louisiana areas herald many artists and songs that have become international hits, won Grammy awards, and become highly sought after by collectors.

In southwestern Louisiana in the 1800s, the fiddle was the most popular Cajun instrument and the music still carried clear influences from the Poitou region of France and the Scottish/Canadian influences of their earlier homeland. In the late 19th century German immigrants spreading outward from central and eastern Texas and New Orleans soon brought the accordion as well. African Americans, free people of color and Creoles at the time sang a rhythmic type of song called juré. When accordion, fiddle and the triangle iron were added later, the music evolved into French music or form la la, a central component of Creole music. La la was primarily rural, played at house dances also known as la las, and found in towns in the prairie regions like Mamou, Eunice and Opelousas.

In 1901 (see 1901 in music), oil was discovered at Jennings and immigration boomed. Many of the newcomers were white businessmen from outside of Louisiana who attempted to force the Cajuns and Creoles to adopt the dominant American cultural forms, even outlawing the use of the French language in 1916. Despite the law, many Cajuns and Creoles still spoke French at home, and musical performances were in French.