Search - C.J. Chenier :: Can't Sit Down

C.J. Chenier was literally born into the musical tradition of southwest Louisiana and Texas Zydeco, a chugging, accordion- led blend of French Creole and African-derived influences. Born the son of great Zydeco king Clifton Chenier, the first GRAMMY® Award winning musician in the genre, the young Chenier was totally immersed in R&B, funk and jazz from childhood. Despite his family ties, or maybe because of them, Chenier was not terribly interested in his father s music as a teenager and he spent his college years exploring his own musical style. Chenier s interest in the music of his ancestors grew and after graduating from college, he joined his father s legendary Red Hot Louisiana Band. Chenier assumed leadership of the band following his father s death in 1987. While he continued to develop his personal accordion style, Chenier also gradually began grafting on influences from his boyhood. He explains, 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.