Clifton Chenier - The King of the Accordion (Remastered) '2020

Tracks list

The undisputed King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier was the first Creole to be
presented a Grammy award on national television. Blending the French and Cajun
2-steps and waltzes of southwest Louisiana with New Orleans R&B, Texas blues,
and big-band jazz, Chenier created the modern, dance-inspiring, sounds of
zydeco. A flamboyant personality, remembered for his gold tooth and the cape and
crown that he wore during concerts, Chenier set the standard for all the zydeco
players who have followed in his footsteps. In an interview from Ann Savoys
book, Cajun Music: Reflection of a People, Chenier explained, Zydeco is rock and
French mixed together, you know, like French music and rock with a beat to it.
Its the same thing as rock and roll but its different because Im singing in
French. The son of sharecropper and amateur accordion player, Joe Chenier, and
the nephew of a guitarist, fiddler, and dance club owner, Maurice Big Chenier,
Chenier found his earliest influences in the blues of Muddy Waters, Peetie
Wheatstraw, and Lightnin Hopkins, the New Orleans R&B of Fats Domino and
Professor Longhair, the 1920s and 30s recordings by zydeco accordionist Amede
Ardoin and the playing of childhood friends Claude Faulk and Jesse and Zozo
Reynolds. Acquiring his first accordion from a neighbor, Isaie Easy Blasa in
1947, Chenier was taught the basics of the instruments by his father. By 1944,
Chenier was performing, with his brother Cleveland on frottoir (rub-board) in
the dance halls of Lake Charles.

Moving to New Iberia in the mid-40s, Chenier worked in the sugar fields cutting
sugar cane. After moving, to Port Arthur, TX, in 1947, he divided his time
between driving a refinery truck and hauling pipe for Gulf and Texaco and
playing with his brother. In 1954, Chenier signed with Elko Records. His first
recording session, at Lake Charles radio station KAOK, yielded seven tunes
including the regional hit single, Clistons Blues and Louisiana Stomp.

Cheniers first national attention came with his first single for the Specialty
record label, Ay Tete Fille (Hey, Little Girl), a cover of a Professor Longhair
tune, released in May 1955. The song was one of 12 that he recorded during two
sessions produced by Bumps Blackwell, best known for his work with Little
Richard. By 1956, Chenier had left his day job to devote his full-time attention
to music, Touring with his band, the Zydeco Ramblers, which included blues
guitarist Philip Walker. The following year, Chenier left Specialty and signed
with the Chess label in Chicago. Although he toured, along with Etta James,
throughout the United States, Cheniers career suffered when the popularity of
ethnic and regional music styles began to decline. Although he recorded 13 songs
for the Crowley, LA-based Zynn label, between 1958 and 1960, none charted.

The turning point in Cheniers career came when Lightnin Hopkins wife, who was a
cousin, introduced Chris Strachwitz, owner of the roots music label, Arhoolie,
to his early recordings. Strachwitz quickly signed Chenier to Arhoolie,
producing his first single, Ay Yi Yi/Why Did You Go Last Night?, in four years.
Although they continued to work together until the early 70s, Chenier and
Strachwitz differed artistically. While Chenier wanted to record
commercial-minded R&B, Strachwitz encouraged him to focus on traditional zydeco.
Cheniers first album for Arhoolie, Louisiana Blues and Zydeco, featured one side
of blues and R&B and one side of French 2-steps and waltzes.

In 1976, Chenier recorded one of his best albums, Bogalusa Boogie, and formed a
new group, the Red Hot Louisiana Band, featuring tenor saxophonist Blind John
Hart and guitarist Paul Senegal.

Chenier reached the peak of his popularity in the 80s. In 1983, he received a
Grammy award for his album, Im Here!, recorded in eight hours in Bogalusa, LA.
The following year, he performed at the White House. Although he suffered from
kidney disease and a partially amputated foot and was required to undergo
dialysis treatment every three days, Chenier continued to perform until one week
before his death on December 12, 1987. Following his death, his son, C.J.
Chenier, took over leadership of the Red Hot Louisiana Band.

A documentary video of Cheniers performances at the San Francisco Blues
Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and on Louisiana
television was released by Arhoolie. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi

Tracklist:
01. Clifton Chenier - Ay Tete Fee (Eh Petite Fille) (Remastered) (2:43)
02. Clifton Chenier - Boppin the Rock (Remastered) (2:23)
03. Clifton Chenier - Louisiana Stomp (Remastered) (2:55)
04. Clifton Chenier - Clifton Blues (Remastered) (3:14)
05. Clifton Chenier - Country Bred (Remastered) (2:28)
06. Clifton Chenier - Rockin the Bop (Remastered) (2:44)
07. Clifton Chenier - Tell Me (Remastered) (2:17)
08. Clifton Chenier - Rockin Hop (Remastered) (2:01)
09. Clifton Chenier - The Things I Did for You (Remastered) (2:53)
10. Clifton Chenier - Think It Over (Remastered) (2:29)
11. Clifton Chenier - Wherever You Go Ill Go (Remastered) (3:18)
12. Clifton Chenier - Cliftons Squeeze Box Boogie (Remastered) (1:59)
13. Clifton Chenier - The Cats Dreamin (Remastered) (2:11)
14. Clifton Chenier - All Night Long (Remastered) (2:43)
15. Clifton Chenier - Yesterday (I Lost My Best Friend) (Remastered) (2:51)
16. Clifton Chenier - Opelousas Hop (Remastered) (2:19)
17. Clifton Chenier - Im on My Way (Remastered) (2:49)
18. Clifton Chenier - Cheniers Boogie (Remastered) (1:44)
19. Clifton Chenier - Zodico Stomp (Remastered) (2:14)
20. Clifton Chenier - Cliftons Dreamin (Remastered) (2:54)
21. Clifton Chenier - The Big Wheel (Remastered) (2:51)
22. Clifton Chenier - It Happened so Fast (Remastered) (2:25)
23. Clifton Chenier - Goodbye Baby (Remastered) (3:14)
24. Clifton Chenier - Worried Life Blues (Remastered) (2:13)
25. Clifton Chenier - Hey Ma Ma (Remastered) (2:03)
26. Clifton Chenier - Night and Day My Love (Remastered) (2:42)
27. Clifton Chenier - Rockin Accordion (Remastered) (2:18)

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