Rosie Ledet | |
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Rosie Ledet at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 2004
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Background information | |
Birth name | Mary Roszela Bellard |
Also known as | The Zydeco Sweetheart |
Born | October 25, 1971 |
Origin | Church Point, Louisiana |
Genres | Zydeco, cajun |
Occupation(s) | musician, singer, songwriter |
Instruments | vocals, accordion |
Years active | 1994–present |
Website | rosieledet.net |
Rosie Ledet (born October 25, 1971, Mary Roszela Bellard in Church Point, Louisiana, USA) is an American Creole Zydeco accordion player and singer.
Her songs are known for their sultry and suggestive lyrics. She tours and records with her band, the Zydeco Playboys.
Raised in rural Louisiana, Ledet listened to rock music in her youth. Although she was in an environment where zydeco was heard, she took little interest in the music at the time. She first became fascinated with zydeco music when she was 16 years old. She attended a zydeco dance at Richard's, a famous zydeco club in Lawtell, Louisiana, and saw Boozoo Chavis play, which inspired her to start learning to play zydeco. At this dance, she also met Morris Ledet, her husband to be.
She learned the accordion watching Morris play. When he heard her, he stepped aside allowing her the spotlight, and became her accompanist on the bass guitar. Morris, then brought Rosie to his producer, Mike Lachney, also known as DJ BAD WEATHER, a veteran zydeco producer. Mike was so impressed, that he quickly set up a recording session. Mike then took Rosie to Floyd Soileau, of Maison De Soul label. Floyd also was impressed and gave Mike a contract to produce five albums on Rosie. She started playing around Louisiana and Texas in 1994. The same year, she released her debut album Sweet Brown Sugar on Maison De Soul label.
She resides in Iota, Louisiana.