Zydeco to rock the Ellington

From staff reports
Published: October 1, 2008

Rosie Ledet grew up in southwest Louisiana listening to rock ’n’ roll, not Zydeco.

There was plenty of the accordion-based sound augmented by guitar, fiddle and washboard — with its roots deep in the Creole culture and latter-day spices from R&B and soul sprinkled in — playing all around her. She preferred Santana and ZZ Topp.

Then one day at age 16, she went to a dance where she heard Zydeco great Boozoo Chavis and met Zydeco musician Morris Ledet. She was smitten by both, or so the story in her official biography goes.

Morris Ledet became her husband, and she learned Zydeco by watching him play. While he was at work, she’d practice on the accordion.

Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys — her husband’s band — are scheduled to perform at The Ellington on Oct. 4.

The band plays around the country, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the St. Louis Blues Festival, and in Europe.

Ledet, a bluesy singer and songwriter, has garnered three “Beat of the Beat” awards from Offbeat Magazine: Best Zydeco Band or Performer, Best New Zydeco Group or Performer, and Best Vocalist.