I interviewed Queen Ida a few years back for an article and she gave pretty much the same story -- that it was related to the party atmosphere they had sitting on the porch while snapping beans and playing music and visiting with each other. So Zydeco came to be shorthand for "let's party hearty," and now represents that particular kind of music.

She was absolutely terrific -- both her music and her interview. I also got her cookbook at the concert, but years later, still haven't made the gumbo -- one of my favorite foods in the world. don't know why.

does anyone know what's happened with Queen Ida? Is she still performing? I sort of see her as the Tina Turner of Zydeco. They're both a couple of my role models ...

WyoWoman