Terrance Simien

Terrance Simien
Simien performing in February 2008
Background information
Born	3 September 1965 (1965-09-03) Mallet, Louisiana United States
Genres	Zydeco, Cajun music, roots music, Americana
Occupations	Musician, Educator, Film scorer
Instruments	Vocals, piano, accordion, trumpet
Labels	Restless Records Tone Cool AIM Records Beadhead Records Black Top Records
Associated acts	Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Website	Terrance Simien homepage

Terrance Simien (born September 3, 1965 in Mallet, Louisiana) is an American zydeco musician, vocalist and song writer. He and his band won the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album for 2007.

Simien is an eighth generation Creole from one of the earliest Creole families documented to have settled the Mallet area of St. Landry Parish. He was introduced to music via the piano at home, the Catholic Church choir and in school band programs where he played trumpet.

While in his teens he taught himself to play accordion a teenager and formed his first band Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys, and began to play the regional zydeco club and church hall circuit. In the early 1980s, Simien was a youth in his early 20's and one of only a handful of new emerging zydeco artists leading a band and performing indigenous zydeco roots music. This was a pivotal time in zydeco music history since the pioneers of the genre were aging and the music was in jeopardy of dying off without the critical presence of emerging artists perpetuating the traditions.

Simien and his band have toured internationally, presenting thousands of live performances in more than 40 countries, and released dozens of solo recordings and collaborations. He has shared studio and stage with the likes of Paul Simon, Dr. John, The Meters, Marcia Ball, Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer and the roots rockers Los Lobos.

Simien has appeared on screen and contributed to the soundtracks of multiple movie feature and television films and commercials. He appears on the soundtrack of the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, featuring authentic Louisiana music scored by Randy Newman. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of movies such as The Big Easy, Exit To Eden and A Murder Of Crows.

Simien and his wife Cynthia are active in Creole music education and advocacy. They created the "Creole for Kidz" program which provides educational performances of Creole music and history. Creole for Kidz has reached 200,000 students, parents and teachers in more than 20 states, Mali, Paraguay, Canada and Australia. The Simiens also created an outreach and mentoring program for up-and-coming musicians called MusicMatters.

In 2007, the Simiens helped establish a new Grammy voting category Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album. His group, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience were the first ensemble to win a Grammy in that same category in 2008.

He is considered to be one of the most gifted vocalists, engaging performers and innovative recording artists in American roots music.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Terrance Simien homepage
• Terrance Simien profile, from Louisiana State University at Eunice