Zydeco music was spawned from the great melting pot of cultures that is New Orleans and Louisiana.

When French speaking Acadians were exiled from Canada in the 18th century many settled in Louisiana alongside the local Indians, Spanish, French, Anglo-American and African slave peoples living in the area. They became known as Cajuns and their folk music was slowly influenced by the surrounding cultures. Utilising button squeeze-box, fiddle, whistles, triangle, washboard (many of these instruments were home made), and quirky French dialect. Cajun was a unique style of folk music. In the 19th century the German piano accordion was introduced as well as the Spanish guitar and the French Cajun style was also becoming increasingly influenced by black Creole music.

Rhythm and Blues, and Soul music were mixed with the style of Cajun earlier this century by black Creole musicians and Zydeco was born. The traditional acoustic instruments were replaced by electric guitars, bass, sax, and drum kits although the accordion and the giant corrugated washboard (known as Frottoir) were kept and have become essential to the Zydeco sound.