Tag: zydeco

A Christmas Music Medley from Louisiana: Snow & Tell

A rare snow falls over Saint Charles Avenue streetcars in New Orleans. Photo by Sally Asher.

Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, inspired by life here Louisiana. This is a special Christmas medley of songs that kids of all ages will love…. it certainly showcases the diversity of our Louisiana sound!

Songs featured in this episode, in order:

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Fats Domino
Joke of the Day – Snow & Tell
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Hadley Castille & The Louisiana Cajun Band
Zat You, Santa Claus? – Louis Armstrong
Sleigh Ride – Debbie Davis & Matt Perrine
Mele Kalikimaka – Debbie Davis & Matt Perrine
Winter Wonderland – Linnzi Zaorski
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Michael Doucet

Also featured in this episode, Rosemary the Garden Fairy teaches us about the beautiful amaryllis. We hear “A Christmas Song” composed and performed by Zoey of the Confetti Park Players, a music memory from Crystal Thomas, and the story JuJu Saves Christmas in da Bayou, narrated by author Michelle Hirstius.
Bruce Sunpie Barnes: The magic of my father’s music

In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear a childhood music memory from Bruce Sunpie Barnes, the talented and multifaceted blues harmonica player and zydeco accordionist from Louisiana.

In addition to leading the zydeco band the Louisiana Sunspots, Bruce has had a long career as a ranger and naturalist at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana. (He also had a career in the world of NFL football, playing with the Kansas City Chiefs!) And he’s the photographer and author of Talk That Music Talk. Read more about his biography at All Music.

Bruce’s music has always been a part of his life, and even as a naturalist, he found music an effective way to communicate about the culture and importance of the Louisiana environment. Bruce was one of the key producers on two-album compilation, the National Park Service: Songs of the Lower Mississippi Delta.

Here Bruce shares a special memory of his father, who was one of his most important influences.

“My earliest memory of anything to do with music was sitting on my father’s knee and listening to him play harmonica. He would work all day, and when he’d come home in the evening, I always wanted to hear him play his harmonica. And he’d play a song called “Coon ‘n the Hound” and make these barks like a dog…. and I was completely fascinated by it.

I would sit on his knee and he would play for all my brothers and sisters (a lot of them), but I would just sit and I would try to figure out where all that sound was coming from.

It was like magic. It was the first thing I ever associated with being magic.

I would always think about that when I would go to bed, ‘I can’t wait till I get old enough so I can make some magic.‘”
Music Memory from Anthony Dopsie

Anthony Dopsie of the Zydeco Twisters. Photo by Sally Asher

In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear from Anthony Dopsie, accordion player with Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters.

Anthony explains his role in the band (“I put the choo choo to the boogaloo!“) and he shares a childhood memory about growing up in a musical family. The Dopsies are Louisiana royalty—Anthony’s father was Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., famed zydeco accordionist. (Check out this interview with Anthony’s brother, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr.)

Says Anthony: “What got me into music was I started knowing that my dad was famous. He was just my Daddy, you know…. But when I got older and started seeing my dad on TV, and all the kids would want to come by, I said, ‘Well, that’s my dad, and I want to be like him one day!’”

Anthony also offers some good advice to kids about how to carve out your own niche in this world. Take a look around, and think about who you are, where you come from…..what are the things you really love—that maybe you take for granted? Maybe the answer is right in front of you.

“I really love my music. I really love my culture,” says Anthony. “I advise all the kids today to never forget where you come from. It starts off as a kid…. we all started from a flower. You keep watering that flower, one day that flower is gonna grow.”

What colorful, beautiful flowers we grow in Louisiana!
Music Medley: Frogsy Wogsy
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians.

Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Go to Camp – Ph Fred
- Jambalaya (On the Bayou) – Papillon
- Froggy Went a Courtin – The Radiators
- Little Red Caboose – Buckwheat Zydeco
- Hush Little Mockingbird – Nancy Tabb Marcantel
Confetti Park is a children’s media workshop, podcast, and weekly radio program based out of New Orleans. We gather and tell stories, through music, art, puppetry, animations, and more. We are particularly inspired by the unique culture of Louisiana.

The Confetti Park podcast, hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!
Music Medley: Counting Things

1, 2, 3, 4, 5….10! Counting things!

Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.  This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:

Kick Rocks – Wardell Quezergue
Twenty Bees – Johnette Downing
Ten Green Bottles – Jeremy Lyons
Frere Jacques – Swing Setters
Hey Little Girl – Jason & Layla
Walking in the Woods with my Parrain – Cajun Ron Black Guidry
Music Medley: Stars & Stripes & Crabs
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana. This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Yankee Doodle – The Swing Setters
- Clickety Clackety Crab – Louisiana Pollywogs
- Mary Don’t You Weep – Renzi Center Kids
- Shopping Song – Schatzy
- Jumpin’ Ollies – Phillip Melancon
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Kermit Ruffins feat. Kaylin Orleans Ruffins
- Renzi House Rhythm –Renzi Center Kids
Music Medley: Pelican’s Bill
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.

This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Swamp Stompin’ – Luther Kent (Wardell Quezergue)
- Mardi Gras Mambo – Renzi Center kids
- Pontchy Pelican – Angela Mannino
- Zydeco Extravaganza – Terrance Simien
- Poem by Hrilina Ramrakhiani
- Polly Wolly Wee – Huddie Ledbetter
- Polly Wolly Wee – Katy Ray and the Confetti Park Players
- Feliciana LeRoux – Johnette Downing
- St. Anne Reel – Renaissance Cadienne
The Confetti Park podcast, hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!
Music Memory from Charles Hudson

Charles Hudson on trumpet. Photo by Sally Asher

Charles Hudson is a trumpet player who plays mostly zydeco music(!). He is associated with the “royal family” of zydeco, as a regular band member of Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and The Zydeco Twisters. Being part of this act, Hudson not only has terrific musical chops, but high energy and dancing skills, too. (Rockin’ Dopsie is often compared to James Brown.)

Charles shares an early memory of how he got his start playing the horn as a kid. “I marched in every parade with the Stardusters Drum and Bugle Corps out of St. Bernard Parish,” says Charles.

Learn all about this storied drum and bugle corps that was based out of Arabi at http://www.louisianadrumcorps.org/stardusters/.
Music Medley: Trains and Sheep

Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.  This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:

Choo Choo Boogaloo – Buckwheat Zydeco
Choctaw Choo Choo – Confetti Park Players
Big Brown Cow – PH Fred
Ice Cream – George Lewis’ Ragtime Band
Music Memory Ben Schenk
Pig Latin Song – Leadbelly
La chanson ee cinquante Sous – Michael “Beausoliel” Doucet With Family & Friends
You Are My Sunshine – Confetti Park Players
Circle Of Life – Johnette Downing
Music Medley: Songs of Donuts & Brains
Welcome to Confetti Park, a magical playground of music and stories for kids everywhere. What’s unique about these songs, and these stories, is that they all come from Louisiana. This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians. Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- If I Only Had a Brain – Paul Sanchez
- Buckwheat Zydeco – Skip to My Lou
- Sue – Michael Doucet
- A Long Time to Come, performed by PH Fred and Friends
- Floating in a Donut Hole – Philip Melancon
- Buttermilk Drop – Confetti Park Players
- Baby You Wait on Your Mama – Alan Dyson
- Music Memory: Jason Rhein
- Renaissance Cadienne – J’ai du bon Tabac
- Storytime: Why the Possum has a Large Grin – Johnette Downing
Confetti Park current broadcast schedule:
- WHIV 102.3 FM in New Orleans every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Listen via Live Stream)
- KSLU 90.9 FM in Hammond every Sunday at 12 p.m. NOON
Music Memory from Rockin Dopsie, Jr.

A music memory from Rockin Dopsie, Jr., zydeco musician, washboard player, singer and lead personality of The Zydeco Twisters. Dopsie, Jr. and his family are carrying on the legacy of their father, famed accordionist Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., the crowned prince of zydeco. In this music memory, Dopsie, Jr. discusses his earliest influences.

Rockin Dopsie, Jr. Photo by Sally Asher
Music Medley “Baby Astronaut”
Confetti Park is a community radio program out of New Orleans. We feature local storytellers and songs that kids love, songs created for kids, or created by kids, right here in Louisiana.

This medley of kids music shows the diversity of Louisiana musicians.

Songs featured in this episode, in order:
- Jack & Jill – Wardell Quezergue
- Cool Man – Los Po-boy-citos
- Jenny Had a Rocket – PH Fred
- Dancing on the Moon – Confetti Park Players
- Radio Controlled Airplanes – Jimmy Cousins
- Airplane – Confetti Park Players
- Red Bird – Leadbelly
- Five Little Butterflies – Johnette Downing