We specialize in hard to find items
All Categories
Mel Bay Clifton Chenier: King of Zydeco
Share Tweet
*Price and Stocks may change without prior notice
*Packaging of actual item may differ from photo shown
- Electrical items MAY be 110 volts.
- 7 Day Return Policy
- All products are genuine and original
About Mel Bay Clifton Chenier: King Of Zydeco
Product Description This collection of 15 accordion arrangements of tunes by Clifton Chenier (1925-1987) clearly demonstrates why he is known as the undisputed King of Zydeco music. Written for the piano accordion as opposed to the Cajun button accordion, all of the selections in this book are transcribed from Chenier's 1965-1987 recordings on Arhoolie Records. The featured tunes are: "Ain't No Need of Cryin'" "Tu le Ton Son Ton," "I'm Coming Home," "Jole Blonde," "Calinda," "Louisiana Two-Step," "Ay, Ai, Ai," "Louisiana Blues," "Black Gal," "Big Momou,"""I'm on the Wonder," "Zydeco Cha Cha," "I'm a Hog for You," "Zydeco et Pas Sale," and "Black Snake Blues." Dix Bruce con- tributes a fine essay on the colorful life of Clifton Chenier. A delightful companion CD recording is available in the spirit of Chenier's signature cry- "Laissez les bon ton roulet!" (Let the good times role!) *** Note: 10 songs out of 15 are on the cd, 96616CD Clifton Chenier "60 Minutes with the King of Zydeco." The other 5 songs are transcribed from other Arhooolie CDs by Clifton Chenier. About the Author Clifton Chenier was born in 1925 near Opelousas, Louisiana. His father played the accordion and from an early age Clifton heard a mixture of Black and White, Cajun and Creole music both live and on recordings. As a youth Chenier helped support the family through manual labor in the rice, cotton, and sugar cane fields, and for years his music was no more than an interesting, satisfying hobby. Later he would work in the oil refineries, playing music on weekends with his older brother, Cleveland. It wasn't until 1956 that he was able to make music his full-time occupation and move to Houston, Texas, a major center of R & B in the 1950s. He toured extensively in the '70s and '80s, becoming a fixture at music festivals in the U. S. and Europe and introducing zydeco music to a broad audience. His musical legacy as a vocalist and accordionist has fortunately been preserved through extensive Creole blues, zydeco, and rock recordings on the Arhoolie label.
