Entry in progress—B.P.
   
Wikipedia: Zydeco
Zydeco (/ˈzaɪdɪˌkoʊ/ ZY-dih-koh or /ˈzaɪdiˌkoʊ/ ZY-dee-koh, French: Zarico) is a music genre that evolved in southwest Louisiana by French Creole speakers which blends blues, rhythm and blues, and music indigenous to the Louisiana Creoles and the Native people of Louisiana. Though distinct in origin from the Cajun music of Louisiana, the two forms influenced each other, forming a complex of genres native to Louisiana.
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Origin of term
The origin of the word “zydeco” is uncertain. One theory is that it derives from the French phrase Les haricots ne sont pas salés, which, when spoken in the Louisiana Creole French, sounds as [lez‿a.ɾi.ko nə sɔ̃ pa saˈle]. This literally translates as “the snap beans aren’t salty” but idiomatically as “times are hard” signifying the speaker’s fatigue or lack of energy. The earliest recorded use of the term may have been the country and western musical group called Zydeco Skillet Lickers who recorded the song “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo” in 1929.
 
Initially, several different spellings of the word existed, including “zarico” and “zodico” (in some dialects of French, rd). In 1960, musicologist Robert “Mack” McCormick wrote liner notes for a compilation album, A Treasury of Field Recordings, and used the spelling “zydeco”. The word was used in reviews, and McCormick began publicizing it around Houston as a standard spelling. Its use was also accepted by musician Clifton Chenier – who had previously recorded “Zodico Stomp” in 1955 – in his recording “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés”, after which Chenier himself claimed credit for devising the word.
     
(Oxford English Dictionary)
Zydeco, n.
Etymology: ? Creole pronunciation of French les haricots from dance-tune title ‘Les haricots sont pas salés’.
U.S. Black English.
A kind of Afro-American dance music of southern Louisiana; the dance itself. Also attributive.
1949   in M. Leadbitter & N. Slaven Blues Records (1968) 136   Zologo (Organ Blues)—1. Gold Star 669.
1960   M. McCormick Treasury of Field Recordings I (notes to LP record) 31   Two local groups..have achieved nation~wide record sales with their interpretations of Zydeco music.
1964   Amer. Folk Music Occas. No. 1. 28   ‘Zydeco’ is a mixture of the blues and the music of the early Acadian settlers and is very popular in Southern Louisiana and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast especially in Houston, Texas.
1964   Amer. Folk Music Occas. No. 1. 28   Clifton Chenies is no doubt the best known of the so-called ‘Zydeco’ musicians. This music..usually features the accordion with drum or rub-board accompaniment.
       
OCLC WorldCat record
Les Haricots Sont Pas Salés
Author: Jimmy Peters
Edition/Format: Sound recording Sound recording
Publication: Field Recordings Vol. 5: Louisiana, Texas, Bahamas (1933-1940)
 
YouTube
Clifton Chenier - Les Haricots Sont Pas Sales
May 25, 2017
francesesco
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Louisiana blues and zydeco.
Author: Clifton Chenier
Publisher: Arhoolie Records, ©1965.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Zydeco cha-cha ; Bad luck and trouble
Author: Clifton Chenier
Publisher: [Place of publication not identified] : Bayou Records, [between 1965 and 1966]
Edition/Format:   Music : 45 rpm : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Zodico: Louisiana Creole music.
Author: Fremont Fontenot; Inez Catalon; Wilfred Latour; Carrière Brothers.; Ardoin Family.; All authors
Publisher: Somerville, MA : Rounder Records, ℗1976.
Edition/Format:   Music LP : English