ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 129
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
A RESOLUTION
To designate each June 25 from 2021 to 2025 as Clifton Chenier Day in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Clifton Chenier was born on June 25, 1925, near Opelousas, Louisiana;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chenier helped to pioneer the development of zydeco music, a
southern Louisiana blend of blues rhythms and French, African-American, Native American,
and Afro-Caribbean traditions; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chenier was billed as the "king of zydeco" and helped to popularize
zydeco music by infusing R&B and swing into his music with his chromatic piano
accordion; and
WHEREAS, in 1954, Mr. Chenier began his recording career under the Elko Records
label, and from his first recording session at the Lake Charles radio station KAOK, the
regional hit singles "Clifton's Blues" and "Louisiana Stomp" were born; and
WHEREAS, in 1955, Mr. Chenier signed with Specialty Records and garnered his
first national hit with his label debut entitled "Ay-Tete-Fi" (Hey, Little Girl), which was a
cover of a song by Professor Longhair; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, Mr. Chenier formed the Red Hot Louisiana Band, which
featured his brother and rubboard player Cleveland Chenier, saxophonist John Hart, guitarist
Paul 'Lil' Buck' Sinegal, guitarist Joe Brouchet, drummer Robert St. Julien, and Stanley
"Buckwheat" Dural, who later started the Grammy- and Emmy-winning band Buckwheat
Zydeco; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chenier traveled throughout Europe introducing zydeco to the
world; and
WHEREAS, in 1983, Mr. Chenier received a Grammy award for his album entitled
I'm Here; and
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WHEREAS, in 1984, Mr. Chenier won a National Heritage Fellowship from the
National Endowment for the Arts, an award which is the nation's highest honor with respect
to folk and traditional arts; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Mr. Chenier and his band were inducted into the Grammy Hall
of Fame for the 1975 album Bogalusa Boogie, and during the same year, Mr. Chenier was
inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Mr. Chenier received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award, a distinct honor that recognizes the creative contributions of music's elite artists; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chenier died on December 12, 1987, in Lafayette, Louisiana, and
was buried in All Souls Cemetery in Loureaville, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chenier has made a significant mark on Creole and zydeco music
by creating a distinct musical style not only for the state of Louisiana but for the world as
a whole.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize each June 25 from 2021 to 2025 as Clifton
Chenier Day in Louisiana, and hereby acknowledges the extraordinary musical
accomplishments of this legendary Louisiana musician.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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