CMCreole MemoriesZydeco Archive
On This Day

April 15

Quiet day in the archive

Nothing is filed for April 15 — yet.

Here's what happened in the days around it. Know something that happened on April 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 April 15

Close to this day

Uncategorized
APR · 13, 2021
Leo "The Bull" Thomas Dies

Leo "The Bull" Thomas died on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at the age of 84 in Elton, Louisiana. Known in the Zydeco Nation as "The Bull" and the "Best Dress Man In Zydeco," Leo Thomas was the first and on...

Blues Music
APR · 19, 1937
Harry 'Big Daddy' Hypolite Born

Harry 'Big Daddy' Hypolite, talented guitarist and sideman for more than 40 years, most notably in the bands of the Zydeco great Clifton Chenier, later Chenier's son C.J. Chenier and Nathan & the Zyde...

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...

Creole Music
APR · 22, 2001
Joseph "Bebe" Carriere Dies

Joseph "Bebe" Carriere Sr. (b 1909), legendary Creole Fiddler and Creole music pioneer, died on April 22, 2001 at the age of 92. Joseph "Bebe" Carriere Sr , along with his brother Eraste “Dolan” Carri...

Uncategorized
APR · 04, 1968
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at 6:01 PM, on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, while preparing to lead a local march in support of the heavily black...

Jazz Music
APR · 04, 2003
Clinton “Santy” Runyon Dies

Clinton “Santy” Runyon (b 1907) died on April 4, 2003 in Lafayette, Louisiana at the age of 96. Santy Runyon was a world renowned saxophonist, who played in Al Capone's speakeasy club, The Coliseum, a...

From the archive

More to discover

World History
JUN · 04, 1937
Freddy Fender Born

Baldemar Huerta, known to the world as Freddy Fender, was born on June 4, 1937 in San Benito, Texas. Freddy Fender was a Mexican-American, Tejano, country, and rock and roll musician, known for his wo...

Uncategorized
JUL · 29, 1995
Canray Fontenot Dies

Highly respected creole fiddler Creole fiddler Canray Fontenot died on July 29, 1995 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer and diabetes. His family was originally from the Duralde area, where his fa...

Uncategorized
NOV · 30, 2008
Senator Jones Dies

Senator Jones, one of the most important innovators of the modern Southern Soul Sound, and who produced many Southern Soul and blues records in both New Orleans and at his “ranch” and home in the coun...

Freddie "Big Roger" Collins
Blues Music
OCT · 02, 2001
Freddie "Big Roger" Collins Dies

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 "...

Zydeco Music
NOV · 17, 2007
Joseph Adam Mouton Dies

Joseph Adam Mouton, known to the Zydeco Nation as Zydeco Joe, died on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at Lafayette general hospital in Lafayette Louisiana of a massive heart attack due to complications re...

Clifton Chenier
Zydeco Music
JUN · 25, 1925
Clifton Chenier Born

Clifton Chenier, “the King of Zydeco” was born on June 25, 1925 in the rural community of Notleyville, just east of Opelousas, Louisiana. Clifton Chenier was the first Creole artist to win a Grammy aw...

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→