Clifton Chenier significantly influenced the musical landscape of zydeco, a vibrant dance music rooted in Louisiana's Creole tradition. His accordion-driven sound became a template for many zydeco bands. Made by the US’s poorest communities, zydeco blends instruments like the accordion and rubboard to create rhythmic music akin to styles from Haiti and Brazil. Chenier's music transcends boundaries, encouraging diverse audiences to dance together. Celebrating his centenary, a biography, !-- as well as tribute albums featuring renowned artists, honors his legacy and impact on music.
Mick Jagger acknowledges that while no music style can be attributed to one artist, there is not a zydeco band who has not followed the template Chenier created.
At its most elemental, zydeco is made with an accordion, a rubboard and the human voice, sharing characteristics with music made in Haiti, Brazil and other African diaspora nations.
Uncle Clifton's music brings every kind of people from every background together to dance the two-step, Mouton says.
To celebrate the centenary, there's a biography, a forthcoming Smithsonian Folkways box set and a truly starry tribute album featuring artists like Lucinda Williams and the Rolling Stones.
Collection
[
|
...
]