Sidney Semien, known professionally as Rockin' Sidney, was an influential American musician born on April 9, 1938, in Lebeau, Louisiana. He was a descendant of a Creole French-speaking family and began his musical journey in his teens, initially playing harmonica and guitar. Sidney's early career saw him leading his band, Sidney Simien and His All Stars, and recording his first track, "Make Me Understand," in 1957. His song "No Good Woman" gained regional success in 1962, and "You Ain't Nothin' But Fine" brought him national recognition as a songwriter.

Sidney's career spanned several genres, including R&B, soul, and swamp blues, with recordings on labels like Fame and Jin. Despite recording over 50 singles with Goldband Records in the 1960s and 1970s, widespread success eluded him until he embraced zydeco music. In 1982, he released his first zydeco record, and in 1985, his single "My Toot Toot" became an international hit, selling over a million copies and earning a Grammy Award. Rockin' Sidney continued to perform and contribute to the zydeco genre until his death on February 25, 1998, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.