Honoring zydeco's rubboard in Sunset, Louisiana

People outside Louisiana may use rubboards for cleaning clothes, but within the Bayou State it serves another purpose, that of making music. It started with Creole music at the beginning of the 20th century, a musical genre that later became zydeco. Known in French as a “frottoir,” the rubboard providing a rousing addition to the accordions, guitars and drums. The rubboard later evolved for musicians by Willie Landry and “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier when the two created the first wearable rubboard, a true American invention.

Willie Landry’s son, Tee-Don Landry, today carries on the tradition with his company, Key of Z Rubboards, some of which are on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. He’s made so many rubboards out of his Sunset, Louisiana, home that the Louisiana State Legislature dubbed the town the “Rubboard Capital of the World.”

On Tuesday, May 22, the town of Sunset unveils its first public art piece, the Zydeco Rubboard, on the corner of Duffy and Napoleon avenues. The 4 by 6 sculpture was created by local welder Pat Miller. 

“I’m just so thankful for everything going on in my life,” Tee-Don Landry said in a press release. “Sunset is a great little city. I know that this project will put Sunset on the map and hopefully it will bring prosperity to the city and the tourism industry,”

Following the unveiling, Tee-Don and his group, The Wayne Blue Burns Band, will play for a reception at the Sunset Community Center located on Leo Richard Lane.

For more information about Sunset, Louisiana, or tourism in St. Landry Parish, visit CajunTravel.com.

Weird, Wacky and Wild South is written by food and travel writer Chere Dastugue Coen.