CMCreole MemoriesZydeco Archive
On This Day

April 18

Quiet day in the archive

Nothing is filed for April 18 — yet.

Here's what happened in the days around it. Know something that happened on April 18? 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 18

Close to this day

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...

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 · 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...

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 · 27, 2001
Danny Poullard Dies

Danny Poullard, highly respected Creole accordionist and native of Richie, Louisiana, died on April 27, 2001 at the age of 63. Danny Poullard was instrumental in the development of the California Creo...

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...

From the archive

More to discover

Uncategorized
JAN · 21, 1999
Charles Brown Dies

Blues Legend Charles Mose Brown died of heart failure on January 21, 1999 at the age of 76 in Oakland, California. Mr. Charles Brown was a major musical figure in the pre-rock and roll era of the late...

Uncategorized
OCT · 02, 1953
Alton "Big Al" Carson Born

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...

Beau Jocque Born
Uncategorized
NOV · 01, 1953
Beau Jocque Born

Andrus Espreé, known to the Zydeco Nation as Beau Jocque (which means Big Guy), was born on November 1, 1953 in Duralde, Louisiana. Lead singer of the Zydeco group Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi Rollers,...

Uncategorized
FEB · 09, 2007
Tyrone Davis Dies

Southern Soul and Blues singer, Tyrone Davis, died on February 9, 2007 in a Chicago hospital at the age of 66. In October 2004, he suffered a stroke which curtailed his career. Working as a valet/chaf...

Uncategorized
MAY · 21, 2014
Goldman Thibodeaux Receives the Louisiana Folk Life Heritage Award

On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Creole musician, Goldman Thibodeaux was presented the Louisiana Folk Life Heritage Award as part of the Louisiana Culture Awards by Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.

Uncategorized
FEB · 06, 1971
Geno Delafose Born

Geno Delafose, lead singer and accordionist of the Zydeco Band Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie Saturday, February 6, 1971 in Eunice, Louisiana. Geno Delafose is the son of Zydeco Legend John Del...

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→