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Although very different, Cajun and Zydeco bands are grouped together here because they are both expressions of the spirited and hardy people of SW Louisiana. Cajun music can be traced back to early Acadian, French, Creole and Anglo-Saxon folk songs which were later accompanied by simple instrumentation. Cajun music is meant for dancing - one-step, two-step, and waltzes - and the principal instrument is the accordion. To a lesser degree the fiddle is also a favorite instrument, and is now joined by guitars and sometimes drums.
Compared to Cajun muisc, zydeco has a much shorter history. Like Cajun, the dominant instrument is the accordion, but unlike Cajun music, zydeco adds electric bass, horns and sometimes keyboards. In a nutshell, zydeco is creole (Black)dance music of SW LA that blends Cajun music with rhythm and blues and soul.
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