NEW YORK – Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs with a confident attitude in French. Lucinda Williams, hailing from Louisiana, brings a slow and smooth swamp pop sound to the stage. The likes of Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, Jimmie Vaughan, and Charley Crockett, among others, infuse energy into the Creole classics originated by Clifton Chenier, the late King of Zydeco.
Clifton Chenier, who passed away in 1987 due to complications from diabetes affecting his kidneys, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on June 25. In honor of his centennial, Joel Savoy, the founder of Valcour Records, and Steve Berlin from Los Lobos collaborated with executive producer John Leopold to create “A Tribute to the King,” set for release on June 27.
Savoy’s main responsibility involved putting together a local band to back these performers and to highlight “the Zydeco legacy families,” he explained. “I was tasked with forming a house band that would match well with the finest accordion players who embody Clifton’s style and the right individuals for this particular project.”
It was a tall order. “In the same way Muddy Waters more or less invented electric blues, Clifton effectively invented what is now known as Zydeco. It’s that driving beat,” said Berlin. This tribute album “is not just a fun record,” he adds, “But we’re also telling the history of this music as well.”
And telling it with some incredible artists who double as longtime fans. The Stones’ Keith Richards said in a statement, “Zydeco and Clifton Chenier have been with me since forever! It’s deep South with some interesting French.”
The first song out from “A Tribute to the King” is “Release Me,” performed as a duet by Williams and Tommy McLain.
C.C. Adcock, who produced the track, said the song “frames them as two old sweethearts who’ve been through the wreckage and the ropes of a relationship (and maybe even of this life of honky-tonk one-nighters) and are asking to please be released,” he wrote in a statement. “Both of their souls are so pure as artists and as people.”
Also included in the star-studded lineup is CJ Chenier, Clifton’s son. “It was an honor to be a part of this project with all of these wonderful, ultra talented artists celebrating my dad’s 100th birthday,” he said in a statement.
“The point of this album was to reflect the reach that Clifton’s music had across the whole spectrum of American music,” Savoy adds. “To show that people like Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Charlie Crockett and the Rolling Stones have been touched by this music and specifically wanted to be part of this project to pay homage to Clifton, who influenced them.”
All proceeds from “A Tribute to the King” will fund the newly established Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship, which will provide financial assistance to students studying traditional music — specifically zydeco accordion — at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“A Tribute t
o the King of Zydeco” Tracklist
1. “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés,” The Rolling Stones and Steve Riley
2. “Easy Easy Baby,” Charley Crockett and Nathan Williams, Sr.
3. “Hey ’Tite Fille,” Taj Mahal and Keith Frank
4. “Release Me,” Lucinda Williams, Tommy McClain and Keith Frank
5. “Just Like A Woman,” Steve Earle and Anthony Dopsie
6. “I’m On The Wonder,” Jon Cleary and Curley Taylor
7. “My Soul,” Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Nicholas and Steve Riley
8. “Hot Rod,” David Hidalgo and CJ Chenier
9. “Tout Le Temps En Temps,” Shannon McNally, Keith Frank and Molly Tuttle
10. “Ay Ai Ai,” Ruben Ramos with Los Texmaniacs and Augie Meyers
11. “I May Be Wrong,” Marcia Ball and Geno Delafose
12. “I’m Coming Home,” CJ Chenier and Sonny Landreth
13. “You Used To Call Me,” John Hiatt and Roddie Romero
14. “Why Did You Go Last Night,” Kam Franklin, A.J. Haynes and Roddie Romero
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