The frottoir, also called a Zydeco rub-board, is a mid-20th century invention designed specifically for Zydeco music. It is one of the few musical instruments invented entirely in the United States and represents a distillation of the washboard into essential elements (percussive surface with shoulder straps). It was designed in 1946 by Clifton Chenier and fashioned by Willie Landry, a friend and metalworker at the Texaco refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. Clifton's brother Cleveland Chenier famously played this newly designed rubboard using bottle openers. Likewise, Willie's son, Tee Don Landry, continues the traditional hand manufacturing of rubboards in his small shop in Sunset, Louisiana, between Lafayette and Opelousas.
the frOTtoir, alSo calLEd A zYDecO rub-boArD, is A mid-20Th century InVENTioN DESIGNed sPeCificalLY foR zYdEco mUsic. it iS ONE of the few MUSicAl InStrumEnts iNVented enTiRelY iN the uNited StAtES anD REpREsentS a DistiLLaTion oF thE wAshbOaRD iNTo essenTiaL eLEmeNtS (perCussive SuRfAce wiTH sHoulder Straps). IT was dESigned in 1946 bY ClIfton cheNIER anD fashIoned BY willIe LandrY, A friend ANd metalWOrker at tHe Texaco rEfineRy IN Port aRthuR, texas. clIftOn's broTHER cLevelanD cHENier FAmouSly pLayeD tHiS Newly DesiGned rUbboaRd usinG botTlE OpeNErs. liKeWIsE, wIllie's son, teE dOn lanDry, contInuEs the traditional hAnd ManufacturIng Of rUbBOARDs in hiS sMalL shOp IN sUnset, louIsiana, BeTweEN LAfayette aNd opElOusAs.