French in the Morning: A History of Cajun and Creole Radio in Louisiana and Texas, 1928-2025Noah Arceneaux
Available October 6, 2026
About the Book
French in the Morning is the untold, century-long history of Cajun and Creole radio in Louisiana and East Texas. This is a story of cultural resilience. Decades ago, critics predicted the imminent demise of French broadcasting in the United States. Yet, against all odds, some local stations continue to fan the flames of Cajun and Creole heritage by blasting out French-language music, news, commercials, and, of course, the rosary.
For many listeners, especially older French speakers, radio was more than background noise. It was a link to home, family, local news, church, and dance halls—the sounds of a culture that had often been mocked or pushed aside. Radio did more than simply broadcast Louisiana traditions—it helped to define modern Cajun identity
French in the Morning traces the musical, cultural, and technological evolution of Cajun radio from its origins in the late 1920s, through the challenges of wartime censorship and a post-war boom into the streaming world of today. These are the stories of early-morning disc jockeys, scrappy musicians, outlandish salesman, comedians using questionable accents, and those who fought to keep French on the local airwaves. Filled with personal reflection and historical detective work, this book shows how one community has used radio to reclaim its heritage, find its voice, and keep its traditions alive. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Louisiana culture, radio history, roots music, or the enduring power of local voices.
About the Author
Noah Arceneaux is a professor of media studies at San Diego State University and lifelong aficionado of all things radio. He is the editor for the Journal of Radio and Audio Media and hosts the “Saturday Cajun Music Show” on station KEUN in Eunice, Louisiana.
Praise for French in the Morning
“Arceneaux adeptly shows through interviews and archival material how Cajuns and Creoles used radio—an otherwise Americanizing force—to strengthen their cultural heritage. . . . As Arceneaux avers, radio does more than transmit messages; it shapes them. In the cases of Cajun and zydeco music, radio sometimes fostered the development of new styles or, conversely, sought to preserve older ones.”
–Shane K. Bernard, author, Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues and The Cajuns: Americanization of a People
“It’s hard to believe that no one has written this book until now. The story of French language radio in Louisiana is a significant part of the effort to preserve and regenerate the language and the culture it expresses. And here, Noah Arceneaux has done it right. . . . He captures the ad hoc nature of the eclectic Louisiana French radio scene, ranging from meticulously produced studio shows to live broadcasts in bars.”
–Barry Jean Ancelet, professor emeritus of francophone studies and research fellow for the Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
© 2026 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
978-1-959569-39-8 | Paperback | 274 pp. | 6" x 9" | October 6, 2026