Video 1: Zydeco Boogaloo – CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band
Video 2: CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band: “Jambalaya” (July 3, 2022; Fitzgeralds, Berwyn, IL)
C. J. Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band, as the King of Zydeco and Swamp Rock, brings his soulful rockin sounds to Natalies Grandview on Saturday night August 5, 2023 at 7:PM (doors open). Showtime: 8:PM. Reserved $30.00 General $25.00
Creole-born C.J. Chenier was raised in an indigenous American culture with its distinctive language, cuisine and music. He delivers soulful vocals along with masterful accordion-driven Zydeco and Blues.
Clayton Joseph (CJ) Chenier was born September 28, 1957. Excerpts from his website: He’s the son of the great King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, the first Creole musician to win a Grammy Award. CJ spent his childhood in the tough tenement housing projects of Port Arthur, Texas. His earliest musical influences were an eclectic mix of funk, soul, jazz, and Motown, and his first musical instruments were piano, tenor saxophone and flute. It wasn’t until his 21st birthday, after winning a scholarship and studying music at Texas Southern University, that CJ first performed with his famous father and the legendary Red Hot Louisiana band.
When Clifton died in 1987, his son said it only felt natural to carry on the legacy—and he stepped up to lead the Red Hot Louisiana Band. He recorded his debut album for the great American independent label, Arhoolie Records. As he told a journalist at the time, he does not try to imitate his father’s playing: “I play it the way I play it. All my father really told me was to do the best I could do with my own style.”
Today, CJ continues to record and rack up honors and awards. This year, he is being honored along with his late friend, Clifford Antone, in Port Arthur’s acclaimed Museum of the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame, where he will join the likes of Janis Joplin, Tex Ritter, Percy Sledge, George Jones, Marcia Ball, Johnny Winter, The Big Bopper, ZZ Top and, of course, his father, Clifton Chenier.
He appeared on the Daily Show, CNN and was featured on VH1 and Entertainment Weekly. He has exhibited his musicianship at many large festivals and venues such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival and Austin’s SXSW Music Conference. In addition to his GRAMMY® award nomination in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category, C.J. has received many major awards including the Living Blues Critics’ Poll Award, Indie Award (from AFIM) for Best Zydeco Album, Coups de Coeur (Blows of Heart), Blues Category Award from l’Académie Charles Cros (France) and Best of the Beat Best Zydeco Album (Offbeat Magazine).
In addition to his GRAMMY® award nomination in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category, C.J. has received many major awards including the Living Blues Critics’ Poll Award, Indie Award (from AFIM) for Best Zydeco Album, Coups de Coeur (Blows of Heart), Blues Category Award from l’Académie Charles Cros (France) and Best of the Beat Best Zydeco Album (Offbeat Magazine
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