Clifton Chenier

Clifton Chenier
Chenier Brothers at Jay's Lounge, Mardi Gras, 1975
Background information
Born	June 25, 1925(1925-06-25) Opelousas, Louisiana United States
Died	December 12, 1987(1987-12-12) (aged 62) Lafayette, Louisiana United States
Genres	Zydeco, Cajun, Creole music, R&B, swamp blues
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, accordion, frottoir
Years active	1954–1987
Labels	Chess, Alligator, Arhoolie, Elko Records
Associated acts	Zydeco Ramblers, Rod Bernard, C.J. Chenier
Website
Music sample
"Bon Ton Roulet"

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 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,^{[citation needed]} and in 1989 was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.^{[citation needed]}

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, followed by the Arhoolie label.

In April 1966 Chenier appeared at the Berkeley Blues Festival on the University of California campus and was subsequently described by Ralph J. Gleason, Jazz critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, as "... one of the most surprising musicians I have heard in some time, with a marvelously moving style of playing the accordion .. blues accordion, that's right, blues accordion."^[1]

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 premiere season of the PBS music program Austin City Limits.^[2] Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.^[3]

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. He died of diabetes-related kidney disease in December 1987 in Lafayette, Louisiana and was buried in All Souls Cemetery in Loreauville, Iberia Parish, Louisiana.

Legacy and tributes

Since 1987 his son C. J. Chenier www.cjcheniermusic.com has carried on the Zydeco tradition by touring with his father's band and recording albums.^[4][5]

• Famed Irish blues 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", from his 1986 album Graceland
• 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.

• The jam band Phish often covers Chenier's song "My Soul" in live performances.^[6]

Partial discography

• Clifton's Blues (Elko Records), 1954
• Bon Ton Roulet ! (Arhoolie Records), 1967
• Frenchin' The Boogie (Blue Star), 1976
• Boogie in Black and White (with swamp pop musician Rod Bernard, Jin Records), 1976
• Boogie & Zydeco (Sonet Records SNTF 801), 1979
• I'm Here (Alligator Records), 1982

References

1. ^ Chris Strachwitz (1967), sleeve notes to "Bon Ton Roulet", Arhoolie Records, F 1031, 1967.
2. ^ Townes Van Zandt followed by Clifton Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1976
3. ^ Doug Kershaw followed by Clifton Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1979
4. ^ Los Lobos followed by C.J. Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1992
5. ^ C.J. Chenier biography, CVSMusic.org
6. ^ My Soul Chart, Phish.net

External links

• Zydeco Cajun Music & Dance - Historical Videos
• www.cjchenierandtheredhotlouisianaband.com

Persondata
Name	Chenier, Clifton
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 25, 1925
Place of birth
Date of death	December 12, 1987
Place of death