Music of the Louisiana Gulf Coast: Zydeco

"The exuberant dance music of southwest Louisiana's black Creoles. Stylistically, it is a rich hybrid, with a core of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and folk roots, blues, and Cajun music (zydeco's white counterpart), along with a wealth of other elements. These vary widely from band to band and may include rock, country, R & B, reggae, rap and hip-hop. Traditionally, zydeco is sung in French, and its lyrics are often improvised. It is absolutely not intended for passive listening. Zydeco's dominant instrument is the accordion, while its signature percussive instrument is the frottoir or rub-board."
(Source: Louisiana Voices, http://www.louisianavoices.org/edu_home.html)