In 1955, Specialty Records took a chance on a little-known accordion player from Opelousas, Louisiana. The single was “Eh, ’Tite Fille”—Creole French for “Hey, little girl”—and the musician was Clifton Chenier. That record launched Chenier and his Zydeco Ramblers onto the national touring circuit. The further they got from Louisiana, the more that backbeat-driven blend of Creole rhythm and blues started to stick. And before long, Chenier was the undisputed King of Zydeco.
Nearly seventy years later, Clifton Chenier’s footprint stretches far beyond his own genre. The Zydeco he helped define spilled into the veins of R&B, blues, and rock and roll. His influence courses through artists who would go on to sell millions of records, pack out arenas, and shape the sound of American music. Now, some of those very artists, and others moved by Chenier’s singular sparkle, have come together for A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, due out June 27 on Valcour Records.
Produced by GRAMMY-winner and Los Lobos stalwart Steve Berlin alongside Valcour Records founder and Cajun music torchbearer Joel Savoy, the 14-track collection is a gut-driven celebration of Chenier’s legacy. Featuring contributions from the Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Charley Crockett, and more.
The newest single from the tribute brings the story full circle: Taj Mahal takes on “Hey ’Tite Fille,” the song that started it all, joined by Keith Frank—known to many as the Zydeco Boss—on accordion and vocals. A mainstay of Chenier’s own setlists and a Zydeco staple ever since, the track has worn a handful of spellings over the years, but its essence remains wild and untamed. Mahal delivers the French and English lyrics while Frank’s accordion blazes at the center. Eric Adcock on piano, Derek Huston on sax, and Roddie Romero on electric guitar round out the band, conjuring that Clifton Chenier locomotive swing.
But A Tribute to the King of Zydeco doesn’t stop at honoring the past. As part of the album’s release, Valcour Records has partnered with the Chenier family estate and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to establish the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship. Set to launch in 2025, marking the centennial of Chenier’s birth, the scholarship will support students studying Traditional Music at UL Lafayette, with a focus on Zydeco accordion. All proceeds from the album will directly benefit the scholarship fund.
To learn more about the scholarship or to donate, visit this link.
