Clifton Chenier
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| Clifton Chenier | ||
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 Chenier Brothers at Jay's Lounge, Mardi Gras, 1975 |
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| Background information | ||
| Born | June 25, 1925 Opelousas, Louisiana, United States |
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| Died | December 12, 1987 (aged 62) Lafayette, Louisiana, United States |
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| 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 | ||
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Clifton Chenier (June 25, 1925 - December 12, 1987),[1] 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.[1] 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]
He was known as the 'King of Zydeco'.[1]
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[edit] 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).[1] This received some mainstream success. With the Zydeco Ramblers, Chenier toured extensively. He also toured in the early days with Clarence Garlow, billed as the 'Two Crazy Frenchmen'.[2] Chenier was signed with Chess Records in 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."[3]
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.[4] Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.[5]
Chenier's popularity peaked in the 1980s, and he was recognized with a Grammy Award in 1983 for his album I'm Here.[1] 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.
[edit] Later years
Chenier suffered from diabetes which eventually forced him to have a foot amputated and required dialysis because of associated kidney problems.[1]
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.
[edit] 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.[6][7]
In 1989, Chenier was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Rory Gallagher wrote a song in tribute to Chenier entitled "The King of Zydeco". Paul Simon mentioned 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. The jam band Phish often covers Chenier's song "My Soul" in live performances.[8]
[edit] Partial discography
- Clifton's Blues (Elko Records), 1954
- Louisiana Blues & Zydeco (Arhoolie Records), 1965
- Bon Ton Roulet ! (Arhoolie Records), 1967
- Bogalusa Boogie - Blues & Zydeco (Arhoolie Records), 1975
- 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
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Craig Harris. "Clifton Chenier". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p720/biography. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
- ^ "Clarence Garlow". Yee.ch. http://www.yee.ch/winter/Band/winter_band_clarence_garlow.html. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
- ^ Chris Strachwitz (1967), sleeve notes to "Bon Ton Roulet", Arhoolie Records, F 1031, 1967.
- ^ Townes Van Zandt followed by Clifton Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1976
- ^ Doug Kershaw followed by Clifton Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1979
- ^ Los Lobos followed by C.J. Chenier, Austin City Limits, 1992
- ^ C.J. Chenier biography, CVSMusic.org
- ^ My Soul Chart, Phish.net
[edit] External links
- 1925 births
- 1987 deaths
- People from Opelousas, Louisiana
- African American musicians
- American accordionists
- American blues singers
- Blues Hall of Fame inductees
- National Heritage Fellowship winners
- Musicians from Louisiana
- Imperial Records artists
- Bell Records artists
- Charly Records artists
- Specialty Records artists
- Tear Drop Records artists
- Zydeco musicians
- Grammy Award winners
- Deaths from renal failure
