BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON CAJUN AND ZYDECO
AS COMPILED BY L.S.U. IN "A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAJUN, CREOLE & ZYDECO MUSIC"

San Diego Public Library
book catalog and other offerings can be accessed online.

= This book can be found at the Central Library (Downtown)     + Other books by author available at the Central Library (Downtown)
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Ancelet, Barry Jean. Cajun Music: Its Origins and Development. Lafayette: The Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana [now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette], 1989. Dr. Barry Ancelet is the foremost academic authority on Cajun culture. This monograph is 58-page survey that concisely covers developments from the beginnings in Acadie through the 1980s. Lyrics to a number of songs, photographs, and a reference discography are included.
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Ancelet, Barry Jean, with photographs by Elemore Morgan Jr., Cajun and Creole Music Makers. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. This is an updated edition of a book published in 1984. It includes priceless interviews with many musicians. French and English translations of the text are printed side by side. The book features numerous color photographs of musicians on stage and in their homes.
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Ancelet, Barry Jean, Jay Edwards, and Glen Pitre. Cajun Country. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1991. The chapter "Music and Musical Makers" offers a 20-page overview.
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Broven, John. South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Co., 1992.
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Daigle, Rev. Msgr. Jules O. A Dictionary of the Cajun Language. Ville Platte: Swallow Publications, 1984. A number of recordings now include transcriptions of lyrics using standard French orthography as much as possible and giving English translations. Father Daigle's dictionary may be helpful in understanding the words of some songs for which there is no printed version. The dictionary includes a short explanation of the grammar of Cajun French.
The Encyclopedia of Cajun Culture. This on-line collection of short articles about all aspects of Cajun culture, edited by historian Shane K. Bernard, is the best place to go for information on specific topics.
Francois, Raymond E. Yé Yaille, Chère!: Traditional Cajun Dance Music. Lafayette: Thunderstone Press, 1990. This is the most complete collection of the music and lyrics (in French with English translations) to Cajun songs available. Also included are explanatory notes about songs, anecdotes and quotations from many musicians.
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Gould, Philip. Cajun and Zydeco Music. Baton Rouge: LSU Press, 1992. This is the best collection of color photographs available taken by Philip Gould, a renowned photographer who has documented many aspects of the cultures of Southwest Louisiana. Barry Jean Ancelet offers an excellent introduction that includes historical background but especially emphasizes developments in the 1970s and 1980s, the period covered by Gould's photographs. The package includes a Rounder Records CD with a variety of Cajun and Zydeco musicians–all of the recordings are by musicians performing during the period illustrated in the book.
Nyhan, Pat, Brian Rollins, and David Babb. Let the Good Times Roll: A Guide to Cajun and Zydeco Music. Portland: Upbeat Books, 1997. This is the source to consult for reviews of recordings by most Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco artists through the mid-1990s. Entries include biographical notes on musicians, brief reviews of albums, plus photographs of album covers. There's also a short historical overview, a section on musical collections, listings of source material, including videos, magazines, and record companies, plus a bibliography.
Reed, Revon. Lâche pas la patate. Montreal: Éditions Parti pris, 1976. This book, written in French, is no longer in print. Revon Reed, a school teacher who was a staunch advocate of Cajun culture (and host of the Mamou Hour radio broadast on KEUN), collects in this little volume all manner of stories, opinions, and character sketches centering on life in Mamou.
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Sandmel, Ben. Zydeco! Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. In addition to Sandmel discussion of Zydeco based on extensive interviews with musicians, the book features numerous black and white photographs by Rick Olivier. Michael Tisserand's book provides more historical information, but anyone interested in Zydeco needs to read both books, and everyone needs to see Olivier's stunning photographs.
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Savoy, Ann Allen. Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People. Eunice: Bluebird Press, 1984. In this book you will find words and music, along with a pronunciation guide, to many classic Cajun, Creole and Zydeco songs, plus articles on a wide variety of topics: Cajun singing, a description of the instruments, many interviews with legendary musicians along with historic photographs, discographies, musical histories–a real treasure trove of fascinating information.
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Tisserand, Michael. The Kingdom of Zydeco. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1998. This is the most detailed account available on the history of Zydeco, based on extensive research and many interviews. Rounder Records released a companion CD with the same title as the book.
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Winick, Steve. "Allons à Lafayette: Historical Recordings of Cajun Music." Dirty Linen (1995). In addition to reviewing a number of recordings, Winick also surveys the history of Cajun music.

A FEW HISTORICAL RECORDINGS
AS COMPILED BY L.S.U. IN "A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAJUN, CREOLE & ZYDECO MUSIC"

Balfa Brothers Play Traditional Cajun Music. CD released in 1991 (from LP collections released in 1965 and 1974) by Swallow Records of Ville Platte.

Cajun and Creole Music, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2: 1934/1937. This set contains the Lomax recordings, which were originally released on LPs by Floyd Soileau's Swallow Records in 1987. The CDs, released by Rounder Records in 1999, include additional cuts, an introduction by Alan Lomax, notes by Barry Jean Ancelet, who is the producer, and transcriptions and translations by Ancelet and Florence Perinet.

Cajun Dance Party: Fais Do-Do. Early recordings by the Breaux brothers, Cleoma Breaux Falcon, Amédé Ardoin and Dennis McGee, and Dewey Segura. Released on CD in 1994 by Columbia's Legacy label.
* Cajun Social Music. Recordings in the Basile and Mamou area by Gerard Dole. Originally issued in 1977. Released on CD in 1990 by Smithsonian-Folkways.

Canray Fontenot: Louisiana Hot Sauce Creole Style. Introduction and notes by Michael Doucet. Released on CD by Arhoolie Records in 1992.

The Complete Early Recordings of Dennis McGee. Liner notes include essays by Ann Savoy, plus a note on style and technique by Will Spires. Released on CD in 1994 by Yazoo, a division of Shanachie Entertainment Corporation.

Folksongs of the Louisiana Acadians. Recordings made by folklorist Harry Oster from the 1950s. Released on CD in 1994 by Arhoolie.

"I'm Never Comin' Back": Amédé Ardoin: Pioneer of Louisiana French Blues 1930-34. Introduction by Michael Doucet, with more notes by Michael Tisserand and Jared Snyder. Transcriptions and translations of songs by Barry Jean Ancelet, Ann Allen Savoy, and Marc Savoy. Released by Arhoolie in 1995.

Iry LeJeune: Cajun's Greatest — The Definitive Collection. Released in 1994 by England's Ace label under the coordination of John Broven. Liner notes by Ann Savoy.

J'ai Été au Bal, Vol. 1 and 2. This 2-volume collection features music from Les Blank's video of the same title (produced by Brazos Films), plus some bonus cuts. Narrated by Barry Jean Ancelet and Michael Doucet and including extensive interviews and, of course, live performances, the video is generally considered to be the best film available on Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music. The CDs (and cassettes) were released by Arhoolie Records.

Louisiana Black French Music. Originally released in 1977 and re-released on cassette by Maison de Soul in 1991. Features Les Freres Carrières (Joseph "Bébé" Carrière and Eraste Carrière) and The Lawtell Playboys. Recorded, edited, and produced by Nick Spitzer.

Music from the Kingdom of Zydeco. The CD is intended to accompany Michael Tisserand's book. Released in 2000 by Rounder Records.

Zydeco Dynamite/Anthology — Clifton Chenier. Two-CD set that covers all of Clifton Chenier's career. Includes a 30-page booklet. Released in 1990 by Rhino Records.



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