The Cultural History Of New Orleans

Up to a point, New Orleans was the largest city in all the vast territory purchased from France in 1803. It was settled by peoples from many different regions” white people from France, Spain (and later Mexico), and the United States, as well as blacks” both slave and free” and, in recent years, refugees from Vietnam. All these peoples have contributed to one of the richest cultures anywhere on the continent.

Cajun music and its related genre, Zydeco, have their roots in the French music of New Orleans. Some of the earliest pioneers include Leo Soileau, Amadee Ardoin, and the Hackberry Ramblers. The latter’s song “Jolie Blon” became popular through Moon Mullican’s version in English.

New Orleans has also long been a haven for jazz. In fact, the city has been called “the cradle of jazz”" though the style did not originate in any particular city.

There are also many foods from New Orleans that have become famous. Jambalaya, a mixture of meat, vegetables, rice, and stock, is among these, as is fillet gumbo; both are mentioned by Hank Williams in the chorus of his song “Jambalaya (on the Bayou).” Crayfish is also widely eaten, as are other seafood dishes.

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