REMEMBERING THE KING OF ZYDECO

Music fans pay tribute to the late Clifton Chenier’s birthday

- JOHN CLEWLEY

Music fans celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, late last month. Chenier (June 25, 1925 December 12, 1987) was a pioneering musician from Opelousas, Southwest Louisiana who helped create zydeco music, a genre sung in French creole (his first language) that came out of the Creole traditions of the region, spliced with blues, R&B and Cajun music.

Zydeco, which takes its name from an Anglicisation of the French word haricot (snap beans) - most famously in Chenier’s genre-defining hit, Zydeco Sont Pas Sales - is the music of black communities in Louisiana and parts of Texas. It is based on the accordion, a rubboard (or frottoir) and drums, while Cajun is the music of French settlers.

Last week, The Rolling Stones released a limited edition vinyl 7” single, with their version of Chenier's signature tune, Zydeco Sont Pas Sales on one side, and Chenier's original recording on the flip side. The single is part of Box set, King Of Louisiana Blues And Zydeco, which features his seminal recordings from 1954 to 1983.

The box set is available in 4-CD or 6-LP vinyl set (a whopping 67 tracks) with an illustrated 160-page booklet that includes an essay by radio DJ Nick Spitzer and an interview with Chenier’s son, and musician CJ Chenier.