“Tee” Don Landry is now a hero to his teenage nieces in New York. Landry scored major points when he secured tickets to pop star Rihanna’s October concert in Rochester. But the girls screamed when they saw Rihanna’s dancers onstage wearing one of Uncle Don’s creations—his trademark Key of Z zydeco rubboard.

“One of my nieces said, ‘Oh, Uncle Don’s going to be so r...