Back when the United States was young, the music drifted through the swamps and bayous of South Louisiana, deeply intwined in Louisiana's French-Canadian experience and African folk music. Cajun music is a blend of French folk music with a tad bit of Native American, German, Anglo American, African styles and decorations. Early Cajun music centered around the fiddle until the German settlers introduced the small push-button accordion in the late 1800's. Zydeco is the younger of the two, Cajun and Zydeco, and grew out of the Creole tradition called "La La", which was home entertainment enjoyed by African Americans in southwest Louisiana. In the late 1940's and early 1950's a fusion of "La La" and American Rhythm and Blues began. The late Clifton Chenier of Opelousas molded the Creole-blues mixed into Zydeco. Many have followed in his footsteps including an emerging generation of young Creoles who have introduced elements of Rock, Rap etc. into an already energized music. Clifton is famous for being "The Zydeco King".

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