b. Ida Guillory, 15 January 1929, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA. Lewis grew up singing Louisiana French songs and began playing accordion shortly after the World War II. When the family moved to San Francisco and Ida married, she had little to do with music until 1976. Ida and her brother Al Rapone played at parties, and she was then invited to perform at a Mardi Gras celebration, which subsequently led to more bookings. She signed with GNP Records in 1976 and has made numerous albums since then, and has been a frequent visitor to Europe with her Bon Ton Zydeco Band. Ida’s brand of zydeco is more accessible than that of many Louisiana artists, and she enjoys huge popularity among the non-Louisiana audience.