Clayton Joseph Chenier is Creole music royalty. His father, the legendary Clifton Chenier, invented the style of music we know today as Zydeco. Moreover, Clifton is the first Creole musician to be recognized with a Grammy Award.

Raised in this indigenous American culture with its own distinctive language, cuisine and music, C.J. delivers soulful vocals along with jaw-dropping masterful accordion-driven rock, Zydeco and blues.

C.J. spent his childhood in the tough tenement housing projects of Port Arthur, Texas. C.J. joined his father’s band on his twenty-first birthday. His first gig was playing for the opening of the now world-renowned Antone’s in Austin, Texas.

On the road, his father showed him how to front a world class touring band. He taught C.J. how to run the family business and how to develop his lifelong passion for music into a career. When Clifton died in 1987 his son, C.J., adopted the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Moreover, he recorded his debut album for the great American independent label Arhoolie Records.

C.J. has also played with John Mayall, The Gin Blossoms, Ray Parker, Jr., Joe Sample, Jimmie Vaughan, Sonny Landreth and Buckwheat Zydeco. Also, The Jon Stewart Show and CNN have featured him. Additionally, he has performed at numerous music festivals around the world. Further, he is a consistent crowd pleaser for The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Attending a C.J. Chenier show is a transformative experience. You may come in tired and beat up just from living in this world – but you will leave renewed and happy. And that is the promise C.J. makes. “You can’t come to my show and stay unhappy. You’re going to break a smile before too long. This is happy music.”