CMCreole MemoriesZydeco Archive
On This Day

October 15

Quiet day in the archive

Nothing is filed for October 15 — yet.

Here's what happened in the days around it. Know something that happened on October 15? Help us fill the page.

Story Map · The Archive

Where the memories happened

60 places · 123 memories

Tip: use + / − or Ctrl (⌘ on Mac) + scroll to zoom the map.

Around October 15

Close to this day

World History
OCT · 14, 2006
Freddy Fender Dies

Baldemar Huerta, known to the world as Freddy Fender, transitioned at 12:14 PM on October 14, 2006 at the age of 69 of lung cancer at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. Hi is buried in his hometown of...

Uncategorized
OCT · 16, 1954
Lee Allen Zeno Born

Lee Allen Zeno was born on Saturday, October 16, 1954 in Carencro, Louisiana. An accomplished, world-renowned, and two-time Grammy winning Louisiana zydeco and blues bassist started his career at age...

World History
OCT · 18, 2007
Lucky Dube Murdered

On October 18, 2007, South African reggae singer, Lucky Dube was killed in the Johannesburg, South Africa suburb of Rosettenville shortly after dropping two of his seven children off at their uncle’s...

Rod Sias Born
Zydeco Music
OCT · 20, 1968
Rod Sias Born

Rod Sias, founder of The Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society, Inc, ZydecoOnline.com, and creator and producer of the Zydeco Workout featuring Lola Love radio program was born on October 20, 1968...

Uncategorized
OCT · 23, 1918
Canray Fontenot Born

Highly respected creole fiddler Canray Fontenot was born October 23, 1918, in d l'Anse des Rougeaux, Louisiana (an unincorporated community outside Eunice, Louisiana). His family was originally from t...

Zydeco Music
OCT · 23, 1930
Boozoo Chavis Born

Wilson Anthony "Boozoo" Chavis, famed zydeco accordionist was born on October 23, 1930 in the small town of Church Point, Louisiana. Known as the "Creole Cowboy" for his signature C&W attire (complete...

From the archive

More to discover

Uncategorized
NOV · 04, 2019
Louis "Big Lou" Washington Sr. Dies

Soul singer Louis "Big Lou" Washington Sr passed away on Monday, November 4, 2019 in St Martinville, Louisiana. He was the fourth child of Nathan Washington and Stella Moore-Washington. "Big Lou" Wash...

Freddie "Big Roger" Collins
Blues Music
JUL · 15, 1935
Freddie "Big Roger" Collins Born

Freddie "Big Roger" Collins was born July 15, 1935 in Ville Platte, Louisiana.

Jazz Music
MAY · 06, 2007
Alvin Batiste Dies

Alvin Batiste, a widely respected jazz clarinetist, composer and educator who played across the musical spectrum, from traditional to avant-garde styles, and was a prolific figure on the jazz festival...

Uncategorized
NOV · 20, 2010
Albert “Little Smokey” Smothers Dies

Albert “Little Smokey” Smothers died on November 20, 2010 at the age of 71 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Chicago, Illinois of natural causes. He began playing guitar at 15. Two years later, Sm...

Jazz Music
APR · 10, 2007
Dakota Staton Dies

Highly respected and sultry jazz and blues singer, Ms. Dakota Staton, (pronounced STAY-Ton) died on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at the Isabella Geriatric Center in New York City at the age of 76. Sharynn...

Blues Music
AUG · 08, 1927
E. Rodney Jones Born

E. Rodney Jones, legendary radio personality, DJ, and Bluseologist, was born on August 8, 1927 in Texarkana, Arkansas. E. Rodney Jones was a member of the Black Radio Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Bl...

Listen · Weekly podcast

Zydeco Workout featuring Lola Love

Red hot zydeco, Southern soul & blues — weekly episodes from the Zydeco Capital of the World.

Hosted by Lola Love, the Zydeco Lady

All episodes on Castbox
Share a memory

Add your piece of Zydeco history.

Help document and preserve Zydeco music and Creole heritage of Southwest Louisiana and Texas — photos, dance flyers, recordings, oral histories and family stories.

Contribute a memory→