Clifton Chenier

Clifton Chenier

Chenier Brothers performing at Jay's Lounge and Cockpit, Cankton, Louisiana, Mardi Gras, 1975
Clifton Chenier on accordion, brother Cleveland on washboard and John Hart on tenor saxophone.
Background information
Born (1925-06-25)June 25, 1925
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
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, accordion, frottoir
Years active 1954–1987
Labels Specialty Records,Chess Records
Associated acts Zydeco Ramblers, Rod Bernard, C.J. Chenier
Website
Music sample
"Bon Ton Roulet"

Clifton Chenier (June 25, 1925 – December 12, 1987),[1][2] a Louisiana 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] In 1984 he was honored as a National Heritage Fellow.[3] He was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1989,[4] and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2014, he was a Grammy recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was known as the 'King of Zydeco',[1][2][5] and also billed as the 'King of the South'.[4]

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'.[6] 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."[7]

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.[8] Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.[9]

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 vest 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 and death

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,[2] and was buried in All Souls Cemetery in Loreauville, Iberia Parish, Louisiana.

Legacy and tributes

Since 1987, C. J. Chenier (born Clayton Joseph Thompson) has carried on the zydeco tradition by touring with Chenier's band and recording albums.[10][11]

In 1989, Chenier was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2011, was inducted into The Louisiana Music 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, calling him the "King of the Bayou." Sonny Landreth recalls growing up on the rhythm of Clifton and Cleveland and the Red Hot Louisiana Band in South of I-10 , songtitle and name of the album released in 1995. 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. Zachary Richard mentioned Chenier in his song "Clif's Zydeco" (on Richard's 2012 album Le Fou). The Squeezebox Stompers' "Zydeco Train" says, "Clifton Chenier, he's the engineer."

The jam band Phish often covers Chenier's song "My Soul" in live performances.[12]

Chenier is the subject of Les Blank's 1973 documentary film, Hot Pepper.

In 2016, the Library of Congress deemed Chenier's album Bogalusa Boogie to be "culturally, historically, or artistically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

Partial discography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Craig Harris. "Clifton Chenier". Allmusic. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Talevski, Nick. (2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 79. ISBN 1846090911.
  3. ↑ "Clifton Chenier". National Heritage Fellowship. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Clifton Chenier". blues.org. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ Fry, Macon & Julie Posner. (1992). Cajun Country Guide: 2nd Edition. Pelican Publishing Company. p. 235. ISBN 1565543378.
  6. ↑ "Clarence Garlow". Yee.ch. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  7. ↑ Chris Strachwitz (1967), sleeve notes to "Bon Ton Roulet", Arhoolie Records, F 1031, 1967.
  8. ↑ "Austin City Limits | Watch Online | PBS Video". Pbs.org. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  9. ↑ "Austin City Limits | Watch Online | PBS Video". Pbs.org. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  10. ↑ "Austin City Limits | Watch Online | PBS Video". Pbs.org. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  11. ↑ "Artist Bio". Cvsmusic.org. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  12. ↑ "My Soul has not been seen in 10 Phish shows". Phish.net. Retrieved 2013-05-21.

External links

List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients E–I

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