"Swamp pop" comes from Louisiana, but it's really quite different from the more tradition-based "roots" genres mentioned in this thread (Zydeco, Cajun, even "swamp blues.)

The term is generally applied to 50s-era rock/pop performed and recorded by south-Louisiana artists and entrepreneurs who were trying to sound "mainstream" and tap into the nationwide teenage market ~ emphatically not embracing their Cajun/Creole roots. I think that an innate musicality and "good-timey" feeling comes through that betrays their heritage despite every effort to produce "All-American" radio hits. The genre, such as it is, can also be characterized by simple production values and (often) some fairly strong harmony singing.

Pretty much without exception, the artists' real family names were French names unfamiliar to Americans outside south Louisiana, but they routinely adopted Anglo-sounding stage names (always simple and hopefully memorable, usually alliterative).

The only way I know of to convey the shared characteristics of "swamp pop" songs is simply to give examples; listing some titles and srtists will help, but only for those old enough to remember hearing the songs. For others, you'd have to be able to listen to several recordings, and then draw your own conclusions.

I'll try to look up some examples laster tonight at home and post them, hopefully including audio links if possible. Right now, at work, the only two I can think of off the top of my head are "Sea of Love" and "I'm Leaving It All Up to You," and I can't even remember the artists' names.

Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise" was a huge hit that almost fits the definition of "swamp pop." It's a good example of the general sound and feeling. However, Frankie was (and still is) a New Orleanian, not from out in Cajun-land, and I'm pretty sure that his real last name is Italian rather than French.