CJ Chenier

Clayton Joseph Chenier, the son of the great King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, the first Creole musician to win a Grammy, was raised in a household steeped in music. C.J.’s earliest musical influences were an eclectic mix of funk, soul, jazz and Motown, and his first musical instruments were piano, tenor saxophone and flute. At the age of 21, he began performing with his father and his Red Hot Louisiana Band. After his father’s 1987 death, C.J. adopted the Red Hot Louisiana Band and recorded his debut album. More acclaimed recordings on several labels followed.

In the autumn of 2005, the delta region was twice pummeled by vicious hurricanes. In the aftermath C.J. began writing and recording a collection of songs in stark contrast to the upbeat nature of his many past recordings. The result, The Desperate Kingdom of Love (2006) was his first solo album as a singer-songwriter. Although different in stylefrom earlier works, this recording, like all other C.J. Chenier recordings, leaves one with hope for the future and some great dance tunes. A self-described “road dog,” C.J. tours extensively in North America and Europe where he keeps audiences dancing.