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‘He made the dust fly!’ Mick Jagger and others on 100 years of Clifton Chenier, the king of zydeco
Whether playing the Royal Albert Hall or a rooster fight, Chenier’s scorching Creole blues blew minds. As a tribute album is released, starry admirers and family members remember one of history’s great live performers
Adcock called on Robert St Julien, Chenier’s drummer, and Cajun accordionist Steve Riley, to serve as “honorary Stones” and ensure a strong Louisiana flavour. Jon Cleary, raised in Kent and long resident in Louisiana, transforms I’m On the Wonder into a deep soul ballad on the tribute album – and remembers that by the early 1980s, Chenier’s playing was still just as hot. Esteemed documentary film-maker Les Blank directed 1973’s Hot Pepper, which documents Clifton playing Creole clubs; Paul Simon sang of Chenier on Graceland; Rory Gallagher honoured him with the song The King of Zydeco.
Or read this on The Guardian
