AUSTIN, Texas — Johnny Nicholas and Jimmie Vaughan, along with famous friends like The Rolling Stones are celebrating their recent Grammy win for Best Regional Roots Music Album, “A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco,” which honors Clifton Chenier.
Produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and released on Louisiana-based Valcour Records, additional featured artists on “A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco,” which won a Grammy in the Best Regional Roots Music category, include The Rolling Stones, Taj Mahal, CJ Chenier, Lucinda Williams, Augie Meyers, Sonny Landreth, Steve Earle, John Hiatt and more.
“A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco” honors the legacy of zydeco pioneer Chenier, whose influence bridged zydeco and blues and helped shape American roots music for generations. Nicholas and Vaughan are featured on the recording with their interpretation of Chenier’s blues composition “My Soul,” a song choice suggested by Vaughan and embraced immediately as a fitting tribute to Chenier’s deep blues roots.
Both Nicholas and Vaughan trace their connection to Chenier back to the formative years of the Austin music scene in the 1970s. Chenier and his band were performers at Antone’s in Austin, appearing on a regular basis for week-long engagements following the club’s opening at 6th and Brazos on July 15, 1975. Those performances played a critical role in establishing what would become Austin’s internationally recognized blues culture anchored by the now legendary and world-famous Antone’s Nightclub.
“Jimmie and I both had a lot of exposure to Clifton and his killer band at Antone’s throughout the seventies,” Nicholas said. “Those nights were foundational to the blues scene in Austin and to both of us personally.”
Nicholas and Vaughan were invited to participate in the project by Joel Savoy of Valcour Records and quickly agreed to take part, viewing the album as an opportunity to honor one of their most important musical heroes. The Recording Academy’s recognition of the album underscores both Chenier’s enduring legacy and the continued relevance of regional roots music.
Listen to ‘A Tribute to the King of Zydeco’ here:
Track listing:
| “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco” track listing | |||
| No. | Title | Artists | Length |
| 1. | “Zydeco Sont Pas Salé” | The Rolling Stones, Steve Riley | 2:45 |
| 2. | “Easy Easy Baby” | Charley Crockett, Nathan Williams, Sr. | 4:00 |
| 3. | “Hey ‘Tite Fille” | Taj Mahal, Keith Frank | 3:57 |
| 4. | “Release Me” | Lucinda Williams, Tommy McLain, Keith Frank | 3:55 |
| 5. | “Just Like a Woman” | Steve Earle, Anthony Dopsie | 3:51 |
| 6. | “I’m on the Wonder” | Jon Cleary, Curley Taylor | 3:48 |
| 7. | “Why Did You Go Last Night” | Kam Franklin, A.J. Haynes, Roddie Romero | 3:21 |
| 8. | “Hot Rod” | David Hidalgo, C.J. Chenier | 3:22 |
| 9. | “Tout le Temps en Temps” | Shannon McNally, Keith Frank, Molly Tuttle | 3:59 |
| 10. | “My Soul” | Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Nicholas, Steve Riley | 4:11 |
| 11. | “You Used to Call Me” | John Hiatt, Roddie Romero | 3:54 |
| 12. | “Ay Ai Ai” | Ruben Ramos, Los Texmaniacs, Augie Meyers | 3:00 |
| 13. | “I May Be Wrong” | Marcia Ball, Geno Delafose | 3:53 |
| 14. | “I’m Coming Home” | C.J. Chenier, Sonny Landreth | 5:13 |