Some old friends dropped by last night just as we were finishing dinner. (beer can chicken, with a little creole jambalaya, and baked beans on the side). They couldn't resist a plate, so they ate and I put on a little Clifton Chenier music and opened the nice bottle of wine that they brought. These were two of my oldest and dearest friends in the world that I went to college with. We went through everything together back then and continue to go through everything together now.In college, we used to go to a honky- tonk dancehall, out in the country on the weekends called Jay's Lounge, in nearby Cankton, Louisiana. It was a dump, but nobody cared because there was a very special band that played there on Saturday nights, Clifton Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band. Boy, did we ever have a blast at Jay's!
Clifton could move a crowd like no other musician I've ever seen. The nitty-gritty dancing that used to go on in that place was as hot as his highly seasoned , pulsating music. The big wooden dancefloor would vibrate and at times, I thought we would cave it in.
He became better known as "The King of Zydeco" and to this day, long after his death, no one can hold a candle to his spicy, soulful, bluesie, Cajun/ Zydeco moves. He was one of the best accordion players that ever lived and captured the very essence of the Louisiana gumbo and multi-cultural spirit that has evolved in Cajun Country over the past 250 years.
My favorite album is "Clifton Chenier Out West w/ Steve Miller & and Elvin Bishop". Now that was one hot gig! Here he is shown playing at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, in 1977 , playing one of my favorites, "I'm a Hog For You Baby"! More videos at the end of the clip. Let the good times roll. cher!
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