Queen Ida

Queen Ida seemed to come out of nowhere during the 1980s to become the leading ambassador of Cajun music. She may have been a short, granny glasses-wearing grandmother, but man, she could rock harder than three metal bands in a Bloomington quarry. Her domain is good-time zydeco music and she shows how a positive vibe can be as complex and vibrant as a classical lament. Ida brings elements of black, white, American, French, country, blues and rock together to make something joyous and unique. The fact that all this wonderful music pours out of a little old lady with an accordion only makes it more special.