Joel Savoy, founder of the Louisiana-based label Valcour Records, and John Leopold, former director of Arhoolie Foundation, accepted the award for Best Regional Roots Music Album at the 68th Grammy Awards, evoking the name of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in their signoff.
“Remember that you can listen to this on a streaming service but buy the record because every penny goes to a scholarship in Clifton’s name at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette,” Leopold announced to the audience.
Savoy produced the winning album, “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,” with Leopold and Steve Berlin of the rock group Los Lobos, to honor the legacy of Louisiana music legend Clifton Chenier on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
All proceeds from the album go directly toward funding the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship, supporting students studying zydeco accordion, in the Dr. Tommy Comeaux Endowed Chair in Traditional Music. The fund was created by Valcour Records in collaboration with C.J. Chenier and the Chenier family estate.
“This album and this award would not be possible without the legacy that Clifton Chenier left behind not only in South Louisiana but around the globe,” said Savoy at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 1. “It's our honor to accept it on behalf of the entire zydeco community that works hard day and night to keep this music thriving.”
Dickie Landry, a UL Lafayette graduate, took the photo on the album’s cover that went global as the album made headlines over the summer. Another UL Lafayette alum, Grammy-nominated designer Megan Barra, designed the album’s cover.
The scholarship recently received a more than $30,000 boost last September thanks to the Acadiana Center for the Arts in the name of the new Louisiana Music Museum, community contributions during a sold-out tribute concert at the AcA and a $15,000 matching gift from the Gia Maione Prima Foundation, Inc.
"This award is an inspiring recognition of the powerful legacy of Clifton Chenier and of the remarkable tribute record created in his honor," said Dr. Gwendolen von Einsiedel, the second holder of the Dr. Tommy Comeaux Endowed Chair in Traditional Music. "We are indebted to Valcour Records, the Chenier family, and all those involved in this beautiful project which directly supports the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship at UL Lafayette."
A Tribute to the King of Zydeco is available for purchase on all major streaming services, locally, and online at Valcour Records. Learn how you can donate directly to the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Photo caption: John Leopold, left, and Joel Savoy pose in the press room with the award for Best Regional Roots Album for "A Tribute to the King of Zydeco" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1 in Los Angeles. Photo credit: