Our Acadian ancestors in Nova Scotia played traditional fiddle music, very much akin to Celtic style fiddle. Following the expulsion when the Acadians arrived in Louisiana, it wasn't until the 1890's that German settlers passing through on the way to Texas introduced the Melodeon or diatonic Cajun Accordion as it is now known. The Cajun Accordion is a one row button accordion, meaning a different note on the pull and the push. Cajun music pretty much remained in the folk realm until the early 80's, at times partially blending with the string band music of the western swing era. The introduction of steel guitar into Cajun music kept its roots closer to country music.

Creole and Zydeco music evolved from the French speaking black culture. Clifton Chenier was the most well known pioneer of Zydeco. Zydeco blended elements of R&B, Soul, and Blues. Unlike traditional Cajun music, it was played on a chromatic piano accordion...same note on the push and the pull. Steel guitar is not usually associated with Zydeco, but a rhythm rubboard is. Quite a few younger Zydeco artists have gotten away from the piano accordion in favor of the diatonic accordion, but keeping the R&B elements of traditional zydeco.

In the mid-80's Wayne Toups blended the roots of Cajun and Zydeco culture to form what is termed, "Zydecajun". Tobin, the two genres never fused together as you wrote above. Zydecajun was about as close to a merging as it came. But note, I have described THREE different genres that are all sonically and rhythmically separate from one another and still exist to this day.

Examples:

Traditional Cajun Music (Folk-Roots Oriented)

https://youtu.be/Tlgn-B1bKio

https://youtu.be/2FFVOELUIrs

https://youtu.be/ZZrU55Erw7g (Drums Added)

Traditional Cajun Music (Modern Country Influenced)

https://youtu.be/itQwbOx_M5c

Zydeco (Clifton Chenier)

https://youtu.be/kZ8iWgWwqG4

Zydeco (Modern R&B Influenced)

https://youtu.be/dUGhdmJ3b6w

https://youtu.be/8QcLL2Znd3I

Zydecajun (Wayne Toups)

https://youtu.be/nvWUkdexyBc

https://youtu.be/muJtsh6tLbI

I think after listening to the bass lines and rhythm elements of the drums, you will agree that duplicating the genres cannot be confined to a one size fits all beat.


Last edited by acadian21; 11/08/21 08:48 PM.