One hundred years ago this month, the music world changed forever when Clifton Chenier was born on a farm near Opelousas.
The “King of Zydeco” and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner shared the soul of south Louisiana with the world through his music and legendary live performances.
A new album celebrating Chenier’s impact will be released on June 27 by Valcour Records. “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco” has already made headlines for its all-star cast, including The Rolling Stones. The album is now available for pre-order.
All sale proceeds will support the new Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette that will benefit Zydeco accordion students in the University’s Traditional Music Program. Learn how you can contribute today.
“UL Lafayette’s Traditional Music Program is really the only academic program in the world devoted to the instruction and education of traditional music of south Louisiana,” said program director Dr. Gwennie von Einsiedel in a recent interview on KRVS 88.7 FM. “Students get to work with Grammy-winning musicians and culture bearers, and they receive hands-on instruction in things like Cajun and Creole accordion, fiddle and vocals.”
The album’s co-producer Joel Savoy of Louisiana’s Valcour Records said the tribute was inspired by Arhoolie Records in the Bay Area of California that helped develop Chenier’s career. Savoy produced the album with John Leopold, Arhoolie’s former director, and Steve Berlin of the rock group Los Lobos. Savoy, a Grammy-winning recording engineer and producer from Eunice, worked with UL Lafayette to establish the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund specifically for this project.
“Our vision was to bring together a lot of these Americana artists that Clifton's music touched all over the country,” said Savoy. “We're very excited to release it two days after Clifton's birthday.”
A recent article in the Associated Press quoted a statement from The Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards about the project that said, “Zydeco and Clifton Chenier have been with me since forever! It’s deep South with some interesting French.”
Musician and photographer Richard “Dickie” Landry, a University alum who recently received an honorary doctorate from the College of the Arts, played frequently with Chenier and took the photograph of Chenier that graces the album’s cover. In an interview for the upcoming issue of La Louisiane magazine, Landry said the scholarship fund will help to sustain Chenier’s legacy and the future of south Louisiana’s traditional music.
“It means that the music will continue for generations,” said Landry. “There will be a new generation every year of some young kid who probably never thought of playing Zydeco or Cajun music, deciding on a career in music or recording or writing music.”
An interview with Dickie Landry about his friend Clifton Chenier will appear in the fall issue of La Louisiane magazine and podcast. Follow UL Lafayette and La Louisiane magazine in the coming months for more on Chenier’s legacy and its impact
More:
Show your support for the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship.
Listen to Megan Constantin interview Joel Savoy and Dr. Gwennie von Einsiedel on KRVS’s Apres-Midi.
Pre-order "A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier" from Valcour Records.
“A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier” Tracklist
- “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés,” The Rolling Stones and Steve Riley
- “Easy Easy Baby,” Charley Crockett and Nathan Williams, Sr.
- “Hey ’Tite Fille,” Taj Mahal and Keith Frank
- “Release Me,” Lucinda Williams, Tommy McClain and Keith Frank
- “Just Like A Woman,” Steve Earle and Anthony Dopsie
- “I’m On The Wonder,” Jon Cleary and Curley Taylor
- “My Soul,” Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Nicholas and Steve Riley
- “Hot Rod,” David Hidalgo and CJ Chenier
- “Tout Le Temps En Temps,” Shannon McNally, Keith Frank and Molly Tuttle
- “Ay Ai Ai,” Ruben Ramos with Los Texmaniacs and Augie Meyers
- “I May Be Wrong,” Marcia Ball and Geno Delafose
- “I’m Coming Home,” CJ Chenier and Sonny Landreth
- “You Used To Call Me,” John Hiatt and Roddie Romero
- “Why Did You Go Last Night,” Kam Franklin, A.J. Haynes and Roddie Romero