Clifton Chenier
(June 25 1925 - December 12 1987) a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Louisiana Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983. He also was recognized with a National Heritage Fellowship, and in 1989 was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.
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CLIFTON CHENIER TICKETS
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Career
Chenier began his recording career in 1954, when he signed with Elko Records and released
Clifton's Blues
, a regional success. His first
hit record was soon followed by "Ay 'Tite Fille (Hey, Little Girl)" (a
cover of
Professor Longhair's song). This received some mainstream success. With the Zydeco Ramblers, Chenier toured extensively. They soon signed with
Chess Records of
Chicago,
Illinois, followed by the
Arhoolie label.
Chenier was the first act to play at Antone's, a blues club on Sixth Street in
Austin, Texas. Later in 1976, he reached a national audience when he appeared on the premier season of the
PBS music program
Austin City Limits
.
[1] Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.
[2]
Chenier's popularity peaked in the 1980s, and he was recognized with a
Grammy Award in 1983 for his album
I'm Here
. It was the first Grammy for his new
label Alligator Records. Chenier followed
Queen Ida as the second
Louisiana Creole to win a Grammy.
Chenier is credited with redesigning the wood and crimped tin
washboard into the
frottoir
, an
instrument that would easily hang from the shoulders. Cleveland Chenier, Clifton's older brother, also played in the Red Hot Louisiana Band. He found popularity for his ability to manipulate the distinctive sound of the frottoir by rubbing several bottle openers (held in each hand) along its ridges.
During their prime, Chenier and his band traveled throughout the world.
Later years
Chenier suffered from
diabetes, which eventually forced him to have a foot amputated and required
dialysis because of associated kidney problems.
[3]
Chenier died of diabetes-related
kidney disease in December 1987 in
Lafayette. He was buried in All Souls Cemetery in
Loreauville,
Iberia Parish, Louisiana.
Legacy and tributes
Since 1987 his son
C. J. Chenier has carried on the Zydeco tradition by touring with his father's band and recording albums.
[4] [5]
- Notable guitarist and songwriter Rory Gallagher wrote a song in tribute to Clifton Chenier entitled "The King Of Zydeco".
- Paul Simon mentions Chenier in his song "That Was Your Mother."
- John Mellencamp refers to "Clifton" in his song "Lafayette", about the Louisiana city where Chenier often performed. The song is on Mellencamp's 2003 album Trouble No More
.
- In 1989, Clifton Chenier was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Discography
- Clifton's Blues
(Elko Records), 1954
- Boogie in Black and White
(with swamp pop musician Rod Bernard, Jin Records), 1976
- I'm Here
(Alligator Records), 1982
References
- Townes Van Zandt followed by Clifton Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1976
- Doug Kershaw followed by Clifton Chenier, ''Austin City Limits'', 1979
- Musicianguide.com biography - accessed March 2008
- Los Lobos followed by C.J. Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1992
- C.J. Chenier biography, CVSMusic.org