"Cajun" humorist Wilson (who described himself as part-Cajun) was born in Roseland in Tangipahoa Parish, near the Mississippi border. Originally an itinerant safety engineer, he often encountered Cajuns during his travels, and developed a talent for telling Cajun jokes and stories. Wilson's first album of Cajun humor sold over a million copies; he went on to release more than two dozen additional albums. He wrote three comedic books: Justin Wilson's Cajun Humor (1974), Justin Wilson's Cajun Fables (1982), and More Cajun Humor (1984). Wilson also excelled as a chef, and hosted a popular cooking show on public television. Over the years he issued several cookbooks, including The Justin Wilson Cook Book (1965), The Justin Wilson #2 Cookbook: Cookin' Cajun (1979), The Justin Wilson Gourmet and Gourmand Cookbook (1984), Justin Wilson's Outdoor Cooking with Inside Help (1986), and Justin Wilson Looking Back: A Cajun Cookbook (1997). Despite his national popularity, Wilson angered some South Louisianians with his stereotypical portrayal of a poorly educated Cajun who spoke substandard English.
