A Virtual Tribute to Zydeco on June 17
June 1st 2021
Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor Accordion USA News

Video: Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws New Years 2017
The Brazoria County Historical Museum hosts and pays tribute to the musical genre that has roots in both Louisiana and Texas. Enjoy the sounds of this grassroots music and learn its history at the Brazoria County Historical Museum’s live virtual event on June 17, 2021 at 6:30 PM Central Daylight Time Award-winning Zydeco group Step and the Zydeco Outlaws entertain while author and music historian Roger Woods answers questions about the music’s history. Pre-registration is free on the museum site.
With 8 CD’s to his credit, international zydeco sensation Step Rideau has been a cornerstone of the zydeco scene for almost 20 years. Step and the Zydeco Outlaws offer traditional sounds from his native Louisiana fused with the urban vibe of Houston. Excerpts from his website: Stephen Joseph Rideau “Step” was born in 1966 in the St. Landry Parish town of LeBeau , Louisiana. Surrounded by Creole culture and zydeco music from infancy, it wasn’t until relocating to Houston in the mid-1980’s that he began to play the accordion and eventually formed his own band.
Today, Step Rideau is widely acknowledged worldwide as one of the living masters of the instrument. He’s also established himself over the the past two decades, through the course of multiple recordings and festival appearances nationwide, as a prolific and passionate zydeco recording artist, songwriter, and live performer.
Part of Rideau’s appeal is that he brings a true singer’s sensibility to zydeco, not just shouting out the lyrics but soulfully engaging with them to articulate the song, both in English and in Creole French. In that respect, he’s served well by his band of Outlaws, who provide not only fine instrumental accompaniment but also unusually rich and melodious backing vocal harmonies, especially in the case of long-time drummer, Jean-Paul Jolivette. Collectively, these players make music that respects the art of the human voice in as much as it respects the driving rhythms, funky beats, and accordion riffs that make zydeco perhaps the ultimate dance soundtrack for people everywhere.
For further information:
Phone: 979-849-5711
Registration is required to join this event. Register on museum site.