CMCreole MemoriesZydeco Archive
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August 20

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AUG · 26, 1993
Rockin' Dopsie Dies

Alton Rubin, known to the Zydeco Nation as Rockin' Dopsie "the Prince of Zydeco", died on August 26, 1993 in Opelousas, Louisiana of heart failure at the age of 64. He was married Alvina LeBlanc and h...

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AUG · 27, 1940
Fernest Arceneaux Born

Fernest Arceneaux, lead accordionist for Fernest and the Thunders, was born on August 27, 1940 to a large sharecropping family based in Lafayette, Louisiana. He learned to play an accordion owned by h...

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AUG · 30, 2018
Al Rapone Dies

Albert John Lewis, lead accordionist for Al Rapone & The Zydeco Express died peacefully in the arms of his loving wife Alice of 45 years Thursday August 30, 2018 in Pacifica, California. He partnered...

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AUG · 31, 2003
Isaac “Big Ike” Martin Dies

Southern Soul and Blues singer Isaac “Big Ike” Martin died on August 31, 2003 from complications from a gastric bypass operation in his hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Big Ike became lead singer...

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AUG · 31, 2020
Willis Prudhomme Dies

Willis Prudhomme, lead accordionist of Willis Prudhomme & the Zydeco Express died on Monday, August 31, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. Willis Prudhomme was one of twelve children and grew up as...

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...

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Jazz Music
JUN · 03, 1930
Dakota Staton Born

Highly respected and sultry jazz and blues singer, Ms. Dakota Staton, (pronounced STAY-Ton) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 3, 1930. She began singing and dancing at the age of 7 She rece...

Zydeco Music
NOV · 28, 1971
“Queen Ann” Goodly Born

Talented female Zydeco accordionist for the Zydeco Brothers and the Zydeco Boneshakers, Ann “Queen Ann” Goodly, was born on November 28, 1971 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

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MAY · 04, 1938
Tyrone Davis Born

Southern Soul and Blues singer, Tyrone Davis, was born on May 4, 1938 to Willie Branch and Ora Lee Jones in a rural community twenty miles outside of Greenville, Mississippi. Working as a valet/chaffe...

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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...

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MAY · 03, 2026
Lee Allen Zeno Dies

Lee Allen Zeno died on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 3:30 pm at the age of 71 after a long struggle with cancer at his residence in Lafayette, Louisiana. An accomplished, world-renowned, and two-time Grammy...

Blues Music
MAY · 08, 1911
Robert Johnson Born

Robert Leroy Johnson, one of the greatest blues musicians of all time, was born on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi to Julia Major Dodds and Noah Johnson. Although his records sold poorly during...

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