C.J. Chenier is a contributing artist to Music In the Kitchen, published by University of Texas Press.  The book features the favorite recipes of Austin City Limits performers, including such greats as Willie Nelson, Roseanne Cash, Joss Stone and Shawn Colvin.  You can purchase a copy here.

"As the show celebrates its thirty-fifth anniversary in 2009, Music in the Kitchen offers a unique, highly flavorful way to connect with ACL through the favorite recipes of some 130 artists who've appeared on its stage...Not surprisingly, the recipes reflect the diverse national and international roots of the performers, who tell interesting and flavorful stories of what these dishes mean to them and their families."

"it seems like every zydeco fan in a hundred mile radius has shown up...we’re talking CJ Chenier. We’re talkin’ zydeco  royalty...He can squeeze the daylights out of [the accordion] for a joyous two step and caress it slowly for a hold-on-tight smokey blues number...The next time the little 300 capacity Johnny Ds wants to fill the house, all they’ve got to do is invite CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band." - Paul Tamburello

Click on the image for the full review:

C.J. Chenier comes home to Texas this April, to perform at Larry’s French Market & Cajun Restaurant and the Houston International Festival.  This marks Chenier’s first performance at Larry’s, just six miles from his hometown of Port Arthur, since 2007:

Sat. April 18
LARRY’S FRENCH MARKET
3701 Atlantic Hwy.
Groves TX 77619
More info: 409-962-9255 or go here.

Chenier will also make an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Fest on May 2, sharing company with the likes of Aaron Neville Gospel, Cowboy Mouth, Bon Jovi and the Kings of Leon.

Catch C.J. Chenier on WTVR's "Virginia This Morning" on Feb 17 at 9am, in support of his show that night at Richmond's Capital Ale House.

Michael "Great Bear" Clair talks to C.J. Chenier about crazy times on tour and the origins of zydeco, on The Sideman Radio Show, "bringing you the Real Stories from the road right from the source".

Click here to listen, in two parts.

Zydeco In His Bones

By Michele DeVinney



The fact that C.J. Chenier is one of the great zydeco artists of all time is evident to anyone who has listened to his music. But the Texas-born musician's musical course was most likely written in the stars - and his own DNA.

The son of Clifton Chenier, long regarded as the "King of Zydeco," the younger Chenier inherited his musical gifts by nature more than nurture, growing up apart from his father, who was an active musician in Louisiana as C.J. was maturing. C.J. pursued other forms of music during his youth, exploring jazz, funk and R&B rather than his own father's music. As he established his own sound, he began to connect more with the roots of his own musical tree, eventually joining his father's band, the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Having played the saxophone since childhood, the son welcomed the opportunity to show his abilities in the legendary band... (link)



Reluctant zydeco star
Hitting the road with dad altered musician's views
Steve Penhollow

CJ Chenier wasn't exactly dragged kicking and screaming into zydeco, but he didn't skip merrily into the genre either.

Chenier's dad was zydeco master Clifton Chenier, who passed away in 1987.

Growing up in Port Arthur, Texas, the younger Chenier loved music but didn't have much interest in zydeco.

"You know, zydeco wasn't that popular yet," he says. "I was too young to go into the clubs where my daddy played. I was into funk back then. I didn't really understand zydeco."

Then something happened that changed his life forever.

"I was playing keyboards with a Top 40 band," he says. "I was performing out at a bazaar and a friend came to me and said, 'Your mom called. She wants you to call her back right away.' So I did and she said, 'Start packing your bags. Your daddy says you are going on the road with him.' "... (link)

Check out pictures of C.J. and the Red Hot Louisiana Band at the festival here! Courtesy of Gary Jean.

Steven Horowitz interviews C.J. Chenier for the Corridor Buzz:

C.J. Chenier, from refinery to squeezebox
06-04-2008

Critics have dubbed C.J. Chenier the "Crown Prince of zydeco" for two reasons. First, there's the matter of lineage. His father Clifton was known as the "King of zydeco" because of his pioneering efforts in bringing the Louisiana musical style to the masses.

The second reason is because C.J. is so good at playing zydeco and leading a band. In fact, he took over his father's old group, the Red Hot Louisiana Band, after Clifton's death in 1987. But C.J. wasn't always into zydeco.

"I grew up in a small Texas town with my mama, not my dad," C.J. explains over a cell phone from Houston. He was sitting in the car waiting for his wife to get done at the beauty shop and chatted amiably about his early life. "I played saxophone in a funk group and worked at the refinery," he says. "I was very surprised when my daddy called and asked me to join his band. We weren't that close when I was a kid"... (full article)