Chris Ardoin

Chris Ardoin
Chris Ardoin performing in June 2005
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Ardoin
Born	April 7, 1981 (1981-04-07) (age 30)
Origin	Lake Charles, Louisiana
Genres	Zydeco
Occupations	singer and musician
Instruments	Accordion
Associated acts	Sean Ardoin
Website	ChrisArdoin.com
Notable instruments
accordion

Chris Ardoin (born April 7, 1981 in Lake Charles, Louisiana^[1]) is a zydeco accordionist and singer. He is one of the young artists that helped form nouveau zydeco, a new style of music that fused traditional zydeco with various styles including hip-hop, reggae and R&B.

He was a child prodigy belonging to a musical dynasty (his father was Lawrence Ardoin and his grandfather, Bois Sec Ardoin). He started with the accordion at the age of two and grew up listening to zydeco only for the most part until he was in his teens.^[1] When he was just ten, with a help from his father Lawrence, he formed the Double Clutchin' zydeco band with his elder brother Sean Ardoin on drums.

In 1994, the band released their debut album That's Da Lick from Maison de Soul label. Though it was Sean who handled all the vocals and songwriting, the album was credited to Chris as they considered putting younger Chris in front would draw more attention to the band.^[1] Chris came more into the center of the spotlight in the follow-up effort Lick It Up! released a year later, sharing vocals and songwriting duties with Sean. Sean left the band after releasing the album Turn the Page in 1997 to concentrate in his solo career.

In 2005, Chris changed the band name from Double Clutchin' to NuStep, and released Sweat, the first album under the new name. M.V.P. followed in 2006, V.I.P in 2008, Alter Ego in 2009, and Headliner in 2010.

Discography

• 1994 That's Da Lick (Maison de Soul)
• 1995 Lick It Up! (Maison de Soul)
• 1997 Gon' Be Jus' Fine (Rounder)
• 1998 Turn the Page (Rounder)
• 2000 Best Kept Secret (Rounder)
• 2003 Life (J&S)
• 2004 Save the Last Dance (J&S)
• 2005 Sweat (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment)
• 2006 M.V.P. (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment)
• 2008 Candyman's V.I.P. (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment)
• 2009 Alter Ego (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment)
• 2010 Headliner (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Chris and Sean Ardoin Interview, Blues & Soul Records Magazine No. 53, 2003

External links

• Official website
• allmusic profile

Persondata
Name	Ardoin, Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 7, 1981
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death