Bonne Musique Zydeco: News

by:
Shay Randle • grandle@theadvertiser.com • February 9, 2009


One of several Lafayette award nominees, the group will add another Grammy to its shelves as it won Best Cajun or Zydeco Music Album for Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

This newly formed category - only two years old - was won last year by local musician Terrance Simien.

The nominees were a who's who in the genre.

Other local musicians, including The Pine Leaf Boys, Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys and Cedric Watson, were among the category's nominee list.

Michael Doucet, BeauSoleil's fiddler and founder, was a nominee in the same category for his album From Now On.

BeauSoleil is an 11-time Grammy nominee and international band that has toured for more than 30 years.

Founded in 1975, the group first won a Grammy in 1997 for the Best Traditional Folk Album category for L'Amour Ou La Folie.

The Best Cajun or Zydeco Music Album category became official last year after local musicians and industry professionals, including Terrance and Cynthia Simien, had lobbied for it for six years.

Material from contributing writer Herman Fuselier was used in this report.

The first Grammy award for the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album was presented to Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience. In his acceptance speech, Terrance acknowledged all the source musicians from Louisiana and accepted the award on all their behalf. He also gave a special thanks to his wife Cynthia for all her hard work in being the driving force behind establishing the category. The presentation of this prestigious award to a Louisiana band reinforces the value of preserving the culture and its music.

Congratulations Terrance, Cynthia and the musicians in The Zydeco Experience. You should be very proud to go down in history as the first Grammy winners in this new category.

As history was made at Staple Center, it was also last night at the Mint. It was a good night for Louisiana last night, and I'm not talking about the presidential primaries, but a night of Louisiana music at the Mint. After seeing the Lt. Governor of Louisiana, Mitch Landrieu, on stage playing the rubboard with Terrance Simien, I decided then that I should move back to Louisiana after being away for 49 years. The Louisiana political machine and music industry people put on a fantastic show featuring three of the six Louisiana bands nominated for the Grammy. The Mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Melvin "Kip" Holden, was also present and took the stage for a brief moment to wish the nominees the very best and to congratulate Cynthia and Terrance Simien for spearheading the six year run for a Grammy category for Zydeco and Cajun music. The performing bands, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Terrance Simien, and Roddie Romero received standing ovations for their stellar performances to a packed house of reporters, special guests and friends.