October 5

Joe Simien, esteemed Creole Accordionist, was born on October 3, 1923, in Le Beau, Louisiana. He moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1950's where he pioneered and kept Louisiana Creole music alive...

On Wednesday, October 2, 1929, Douglas Bellard and Kirby Riley became the first rural Afro-Creoles from Southwest Louisiana to commercially record Louisiana Creole music on Vocalion and Columbia Recor...

Talented blues and jazz singer Alton "Big Al" Carson was born on October 2, 1953 in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the urging of his mother and grandmother, Big Al started his blues journey by learning to...

Freddie "Big Roger" Collins, native of Bayou Chicot, Louisiana and Houston Bluesman died on October 2, 2001 at the age of 66."Big Roger" Collins hosted a blues show on KPFT in Houston, and organized "...

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...

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...

Albert John Lewis, lead accordionist for Al Rapone & The Zydeco Express was born on Friday, June 26, 1936 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He partnered with his sister Ida Guillory and brother Willie Lewis...

Cleveland Chenier, rubboard innovator, band member and brother of Clifton Chenier, was born on May 16, 1921 in the rural community of Notleyville, just east of Opelousas, Louisiana. Cleveland was also...

Queen Ida won a Grammy Award at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording for her 1982 album "On Tour." Queen Ida was the first Zydeco Artist and only woman who playe...

Ellas “Bo Diddley” Bates, known to the world as “Bo Diddley” died on June 2, 2008 at the age of 79 of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida. Garry Mitchell, a grandson of Diddley and one of mor...

Southern Soul and Blues singer Isaac “Big Ike” Martin was born Isaac Martin on July 28, 1949, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. One of his earliest, fondest recollections was of his mother and three aunts w...

David “Fathead" Newman was born in Corsicana, Texas on February 24, 1933. His family soon moved to Dallas, Texas where they settled and David stayed through graduating Lincoln High School. During his...