Slated for an April 10, 2026 release!

A rockin’ boogie on the bayou, My Little Snap Bean is a joyous celebration of childhood with a down home zydeco beat.

New Orleans culture bearer, children’s musician and author Johnette Downing and Lafayette zydeco legend and Grammy nominees Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas are veterans of Louisiana roots music, made by and for their respective communities and shared with the world at large. Their album My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Childrenembodies a true collaboration of authentic zydeco music made specifically for children. This multilingual album includes lyrics in English, Southwest Louisiana Creole (also known as “Kouri-Vini”), and Cajun French. 

 The idea for the project grew from the 40-year friendship of Nathan and co-producer, multi-Grammy winner, Scott Billington. Scott produced Nathan’s 1989 debut album, Steady Rock, for Rounder Records, followed by six more albums that established Nathan as among the leading Louisiana zydeco artists. Scott has occasionally toured as a member of the band.

 Johnette, Nathan, and Scott had collaborated once before, when Nathan was a guest artist on Johnette’s Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween album for children. The synergy was natural and so exciting that the inspiration for a zydeco album for children was born. 

The songs on the album are almost all originals, including three that are adaptions of Johnette’s books My Parrain is the Loup Garou, The Fifolet, and My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane, along with several that reach back to the earliest days of zydeco and the a cappella style known as juré. There is also the nod to Louisiana’s rich Creole traditions both in New Orleans and in Southwest Louisiana. The term Creole for this purpose is simplified to connote a mixture of cultures which gives Louisiana its unique and vibrant heritage. A free teacher talking points flyer for the album and the three books are available at johnettedowning.com.

Tracks

1)    My Parrain is the Loup Garou

2)    Going to the La La

3)    Juré

4)    My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane

5)    The Fifolet

6)    Hitch Up My Pony

7)    Ready or Not

8)    Pass It On

9)    Eh La Bas

10) Loop de Loop

11) Give Me That Zydeco

12) My Little Snap Bean

The Musicians

Johnette Downing – Lead and harmony vocals, and ukulele

Nathan Williams – Accordion, lead vocal, and ensemble vocals

Dennis Paul Williams – Electric guitar and ensemble vocals

Allen Williams – Electric bass and ensemble vocals

D’Juan Francis – Rubboard, ensemble vocals, and body percussion

Keith Sonnier – Drums, ensemble vocals, and body percussion

Scott Billington – Harmonica, chromatic harmonica, harmony and ensemble vocals

Production Team

Produced by Scott Billington and Johnette Downing

Recorded by Justin Tocket at Dockside Studios, Maurice, Louisiana, December 2024-January 2025

Mixed by Steve Reynolds, Creede, Colorado

Mastered by Jeff Albert, Mandeville, Louisiana

Rights

Wiggle Worm Records, ASCAP, administered by Concord Music

Johnette Downing, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas

Wiggle Worm Records, ASCAP, Administered by Concord Music Group

JD-13, (P) © 2026 Johnette Downing, www.johnettedowning.com

All Rights Reserved. Duplication is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from Johnette Downing, Wiggle Worm Records, PO Box 13367, New Orleans, LA 70185, USA

Music licensing through Concord Music Group.

Liner notes and lyrics available on this site under Listen and Lyrics.

This album was partially and generously funded by a grant from Threadhead Cultural Foundation.