Living Ind

ZYDECO NATION

by Dege Legg

The inaugural Zydeco Music Awards honor the past, present and future of zydeco music in all forms at the Heymann Center. By Dege Legg

It isn't just another word for snap beans anymore. Since its rural beginnings as "la la" music, zydeco has come a long way, with many of Acadiana's zydeco bands touring the world over, spreading the intoxicating gospel of zydeco. The music's combination of grooving beats, bluesy accordion, and chicken scratch rub board is as addictive as any feel-good music in existence.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The inaugural Zydeco Music Awards honor the past, present and future of zydeco music in all forms at the Heymann Center. By Dege Legg

It isn't just another word for snap beans anymore. Since its rural beginnings as "la la" music, zydeco has come a long way, with many of Acadiana's zydeco bands touring the world over, spreading the intoxicating gospel of zydeco. The music's combination of grooving beats, bluesy accordion, and chicken scratch rub board is as addictive as any feel-good music in existence.

From Amédé Ardoin to Clifton Chenier, zydeco music has a long and great tradition that stretches from the early part of the 20th century to more recent contributions from Beau Jocque, Buckwheat Zydeco, Terrance Simien, Curley Taylor, Horace Trahan and many others. So it's about time that zydeco music had its own home-grown awards show, celebrating its legacy. Enter the inaugural Zydeco Music Awards on Jan. 20 at the Heymann Center.

Organized by Opelousas businessman Cedric Jackson, the Zydeco Music Awards will kick-off the first installment of an awards franchise that seeks to honor the current crop of stellar zydeco acts while paying tribute to past greats with lifetime achievement awards.

Winners for the awards show are determined by a system wherein fans and Internet users can log on to www.ZydecoMusicAwards.com and vote in a broad range of 19 individual categories, including Best Zydeco Artist, Best New Zydeco Artist, Best Drummer, Best Zydeco Love Song and more.

"These awards are meant to show our appreciation to the music and the artists. For these awards, it's all about the people's vote," says Jackson. "The results are determined by the people's votes, not a board. And there's only one vote cast from each IP address."

The Zydeco Music Awards will feature a red carpet event, the official awards ceremony and live performances by Terry and The Zydeco Bad Boys, JJ Caillier, Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet, Chubby Carrier, Leon Chavis and many more.

"We're expecting 1,000 1,500 people for the first ZMAs," says Jackson. "We've got 12 live bands, a lot of awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Zydeco Force and a whole lot of other things in store."

Why do so many people in Louisiana and beyond have such fondness for zydeco music? "Zydeco is just different. The use of the accordion and rub board makes for something unique that people don't always get to hear," says Jackson. "We don't normally hear those instruments in music at all. It's something interesting with a different rhythm.

The first Zydeco Music Awards take place at the Heymann Center on Jan. 20 from 7 10 p.m. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Heymann Center box office by calling 291-5555 or Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

The Zydeco Music Awards
Jan. 20, 2011
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Red Carpet Event
8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Awards Show