On Air Now:
 
 

Clifton Chenier - The Best of Clifton Chenier

Primary Artist
Clifton Chenier
Album Title
The Best of Clifton Chenier
Release Date
July 22, 2003 
Time
 
Review by Sean Westergaard
The origins of zydeco are traceable to one man: Clifton Chenier, who started blending Cajun music with blues and R&B back in the '50s. He recorded for the Arhoolie label over a nearly 30-year span, and The Best Of Clifton Chenier is (yet another) collection of his music culled from his Arhoolie sides.
People familiar with the sound of contemporary zydeco may be surprised at how prevalent the blues influences are on some of these tunes. Tracks like "Brown Skin Woman," "It's Hard," and "Why Did You Go Last Night" are quite bluesy, while "Ay, Ai, Ai" sounds like what is called zydeco today (and it's the oldest cut on the set). Read More