For nearly 40 years, two-time GRAMMY award winning, 8th generation Louisiana Creole, Terrance Simien, has been shattering the myths and often misinformation, about what his traditional Zydeco roots music is – and is not.
It is American roots music and it is music born of the black and mixed race French speaking Creoles of South Louisiana. It’s exhilarating and as complex and diverse as the Creoles. It’s also more than just one rhythm and one tempo, it’s also about grooving in place and dancing freely.
Simien leads a highly skilled Zydeco Experience band with long time member and creative collaborator Danny Williams (30+ years, two-GRAMMY award winning), keyboards; Stan Chambers (10+ years, GRAMMY award winning), bass; Ian Molinaro – Thompson, drums; and our newest members, Revon Andrews and Ethan Santos, trombone and Orlando Gilbert, saxophone. Not only is the group multicultural and multi racial, it is now intergenerational!
It’s definitely about the vocal performance as well. Terrance’s lead vocals and the stunning three part harmonies of he, Danny and Stan – are proof positive that vocal performances matter – a lot! Zydeco is dynamic and evolving – remaining relevant to allow its artists to express themselves within their genre without constraints.