Clifton Chenier
Bio
There is exactly one accordion player in the world whose legacy could inspire a group of fans like The Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams, Taj Majal, Steve Earle, and more for a 100th birthday all-star tribute: The King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Bursting onto the scene in 1955 with his first hit, “Eh, 'tite Fille,” Chenier blended blues and R&B, and Afro-Cuban rhythms with Louisiana Creole music setting dancefloors and AM receivers alight from the deep South, across the pond, and beyond until his passing in 1987. This June, Louisiana-based Valcour Records will help celebrate the genre-pioneering Louisiana musician’s centennial with the release of A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, a 14-track romp through Chenier’s legendary catalog with performances from the aforementioned icons and many more. The album was produced by GRAMMY Award-winning producer and member of Los Lobos, Steve Berlin and Joel Savoy, Valcour Records Founder and member of the “First Family of Cajun Music,” with Executive Producer John Leopold. “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés” and “Release Me” produced by C.C. Adcock.
In addition to the announcement of A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, Valcour Records recently joined the Chenier family estate and the University of Louisiana Lafayette to form the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the King of Zydeco in 2025, the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship honors Clifton Chenier's legacy at the College of the Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The scholarship fund will offer annual financial assistance to students studying Traditional Music, specifically Zydeco accordion, at UL Lafayette. All proceeds from A Tribute to the King of Zydeco will go directly toward funding this new scholarship. To learn more about the scholarship or to donate, please visit this link.