Clifton Chenier

Clifton Chenier earned recognition as the undisputed "King of Zydeco" while becoming the first Creole musician to receive a Grammy award during a national television broadcast. He fused the French and Cajun two-steps and waltzes native to southwest Louisiana with New Orleans R&B, Texas blues, and big-band jazz, thereby forging the contemporary, dance-inspiring sounds that define zydeco. A flamboyant personality noted for his gold tooth along with the cape and crown he donned onstage, Chenier established the benchmark followed by every subsequent zydeco performer. During an interview featured in Ann Savoy's book, Cajun Music: Reflection of a People, Chenier stated, "Zydeco is rock and French mixed together, you know, like French music and rock with a beat to it. It's the same thing as rock and roll but it's different because I'm singing in French."

Born to sharecropper and amateur accordionist Joe Chenier and nephew to guitarist, fiddler, and dance club proprietor Maurice "Big" Chenier, he absorbed early influences from the blues of Muddy Waters, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Lightnin' Hopkins, the New Orleans R&B of Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, the 1920s and '30s recordings of zydeco accordionist Amede Ardoin, and the playing of childhood companions Claude Faulk and Jesse and Zozo Reynolds. After obtaining his first accordion from neighbor Isaie "Easy" Blasa in 1947, Chenier learned the instrument's fundamentals from his father. By 1944 he was already appearing with brother Cleveland on frottoir in the dance halls of Lake Charles.

After relocating to New Iberia in the mid-'40s, where he labored cutting sugar cane in the fields, Chenier moved to Port Arthur, TX, in 1947 and split his schedule between driving a refinery truck, hauling pipe for Gulf and Texaco, and performing alongside his brother. In 1954 he joined Elko Records; the initial session, held at Lake Charles radio station KAOK, produced seven tracks that included the regional hit single "Cliston's Blues" and "Louisiana Stomp."

Chenier first drew nationwide notice through his debut single on the Specialty label, the Professor Longhair cover "Ay Tete Fille (Hey, Little Girl)," issued in May 1955. One of twelve numbers cut across two sessions helmed by producer Bumps Blackwell, best known for his work with Little Richard, the release prompted Chenier to abandon his day job by 1956 so he could concentrate exclusively on music while touring with the Zydeco Ramblers, whose lineup featured blues guitarist Philip Walker. The next year he departed Specialty for Chicago's Chess label; although he traveled the country with Etta James, his momentum waned as interest in ethnic and regional styles faded. Despite cutting thirteen songs for the Crowley, LA-based Zynn label between 1958 and 1960, none reached the charts.

Chenier's career revived when Lightnin' Hopkins' wife, a cousin, played his early recordings for Arhoolie founder Chris Strachwitz, who promptly signed him and oversaw the first single in four years, "Ay Yi Yi"/"Why Did You Go Last Night?" Although their partnership lasted into the early '70s, the two held differing artistic visions: Chenier favored commercial R&B while Strachwitz steered him toward traditional zydeco. Chenier's debut Arhoolie album, Louisiana Blues and Zydeco, presented one side of blues and R&B alongside another devoted to French two-steps and waltzes.

In 1976 Chenier released one of his strongest albums, Bogalusa Boogie, and assembled a fresh ensemble, the Red Hot Louisiana Band, which included tenor saxophonist "Blind" John Hart and guitarist Paul Senegal.

His popularity crested during the '80s. In 1983 he earned a Grammy for the album I'm Here!, captured in eight hours in Bogalusa, LA. The following year he appeared at the White House. Though kidney disease and a partially amputated foot necessitated dialysis every three days, Chenier kept performing until one week prior to his death on December 12, 1987. Afterward his son, C.J. Chenier, assumed leadership of the Red Hot Louisiana Band.

Arhoolie later issued a documentary video documenting Chenier's appearances at the San Francisco Blues Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and on Louisiana television.