Born November 17, 1954, Classie Ballou Jr. was a larger-than-life Creole bass guitar player from Lake Charles who redefined zydeco over a career that spanned more than 50 years. He died on January 16, 2022.

Ballou is a member of an extended musical family that descended from his father, Classie Ballou Sr., a renowned Louisiana/Texas guitarist. A third-generation member of the musical family, Ballou Sr.’s grandson Classi...