Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience

For 40 years, since 1981, two-time Grammy award-winning artist Terrance Simien, has been shattering the myths about what his Zydeco roots music is — and is not. Leading his five-piece, highly skilled and well-traveled, Zydeco Experience band, Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today. He and his bandmates have performed over 8,500 concerts, toured millions of miles to over 45 countries during their eventful career. 2021 found Simien once again advocated for his music community by leading the effort to establish the first-ever Louisiana state song to be written by an African American composer/artist: the late, great Allen Toussaint whose “Southern Nights” was one of Glen Campbell’s biggest hits. Simien and his manager/partner, Cynthia worked hard to have zydeco represented with a small, but mighty exhibit at the National Museum of African American Music, a $60 million state of the art facility in downtown Nashville directly across the street from the famed Ryman Auditorium. 2019 marked Terrance’s 34th consecutive performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; the gold standard for showcasing and celebrating Louisiana music alongside popular music of all genres. In 2021, Simien was also the recipient of a prestigious $10,000 unrestricted grant for his work to prevent the erasure of his music and culture. In 2014, Simien and his bandmates garnered their second Grammy award for “Dockside Sessions” produced by George Receli, Bob Dylan’s long-time drummer. In 2012, Simien & his bandmates are seen performing their original song “Dance Everyday” in the Warner Brothers feature film “The Lucky One.” 2009 was another really big year for zydeco music; it marked the release of Disney’s “The Princess & The Frog,” set in the city of New Orleans that featured their first black princess. Simien collaborated with Randy Newman on “Gonna Take You There,” a zydeco flavored song inspired by Simien’s music. The film made history as it was the first time Disney featured zydeco music in one of their classic animated films. To really seal the deal, children and their parents all over the world heard to word zydeco spoken in the film! This introduced millions of families around the globe to this American roots music genre born in Louisiana. However, it was 2008 that proved to be one of the most memorable years of their eventful career as they were honored with their first Grammy Award, the first in zydeco since Rockin Sidney Simien received his in 1985. They also performed that same day at The 50th Grammy Awards pre-Tel ceremony. Simien was born in 1965, into the hippie folk and soul music era that has always intrigued him. He grew artistically being inspired by all of the music from that period. He was as influenced by Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel as he was by Sam Cooke and the Commodores. An eighth-generation Louisiana Creole his family is documented in history books as one of the first Creole families to settle St. Landry Parish. His musical roots are firmly planted alongside the great zydeco pioneers like Chenier, Delafose, Chavis, Ardoin and that other Simien, Rockin Sidney, to name a few. He counts himself one of the fortunate few who hail from a generation with a direct link to these artists, some of whom mentored him as an emerging talent. He has assumed that same role to a new generation of young Zydeco hotshots because he understands how critical mentoring is to the success of his indigenous music that has become synonymous with the cultural identity of Louisiana and an important part of the musical landscape of America. In 1983, at the young age of 18, Simien began touring professionally and by 20 he was sharing the stage with Fats Domino and Sarah Vaughan at the Bern Jazz Festival. His career exploded after that and Terrance remains a pivotal part of Zydeco music history. In the early 1980s, there were only two emerging bands reaching a younger audience with their indigenous roots music the young Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys and The Sam Brothers Five. Being an innovator made Simien vital to the "renaissance" of a genre that was becoming extinct with the passing of each pioneer starting with Clifton Chenier in 1987. By the end of the 1990s, all of the other influential pioneers had departed. This placed Terrance at the forefront of an exciting period of growth and popularity for his genre. Terrance is blessed with an extraordinary talent that expresses the deepest human emotions through the original instrument: The Voice. He takes his audiences on a multicultural tour of the world. The many countries he’s visited on tour also inform his musical language. He creates a hypnotic blend of New Orleans funk-reggae-flavored-soulful-American-zydeco-roots music that beckons you to your feet and into the groove. He has found a seamless and artful way to deliver his eclectic music as a relevant, evolving artist who is clearly rooted in Creole tradition. Well known for his legendary live performances, Simien also helped changed the trajectory of his roots genre by introducing complex vocal harmonies, diverse repertoire and carefully crafted high-quality recordings. Simien has shared studio & stage with Robert Palmer, Stevie Wonder, Los Lobos, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, the Meters, Alan Toussaint, Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band to name a few. He & his bandmates have been featured in TV commercials and a dozen or more films, including the blockbuster “The Big Easy” which changed the game for Louisiana music in the 80s. His music has been heard on NPR syndicated radio shows like World Café, American Routes, E-town & House of Blues Radio Hour. Rolling Stone, Billboard, and other notable music industry publications, as well as major daily newspapers, have praised his artistic vision. His extensive discography dates back to vinyl 45s. In 1991, he was signed to a major rock label with bands like Poison, Flaming Lips, Ween, etc. In 2005, they became the first zydeco artists ever to perform in Cuba for the US State Department. In 2006, Carnegie Hall presented them in Mali, West Africa as part of their unique Global Encounters program. Simien’s groundbreaking Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco for student, youth and family audiences has reached nearly 500,000 since its debut in 2000. This dynamic program is presented at performing art centers, schools and festivals. Simien is helping change the vocabulary and build generations of more culturally literate young performing arts patrons who are more knowledgeable about black roots music because of his program. Simien has received countless awards, grants and recognition for his work and artistic contributions. Venue: Freeman Arts Pavilion.