Clifton Chenier

The undisputed king of zydeco, Clifton Chenier virtually invented the musical spin-off of the old-style Cajun music known as "La-la" in the 1950s and '60s. Inspired by the blues, and rock & roll's deep rhythmic beat, Chenier's foremost objective was to make music with his accordion that people could dance to, accompanied by drums, guitar, sometimes brass instruments, and the steel washboard.