Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album

According to Cody Daigle of The Daily Advertiser, advocates lobbied for nearly seven years in an attempt to create a Grammy category specifically for zydeco and cajun music.{{cite news|title=Grammys nix Cajun, Zydeco category|last=Daigle|first=Cody|url=http://www.zydecoonline.com/dev/index.php?name=News&file=print&sid=448|location=Lafayette, Louisiana|work=The Advertiser|date=April 7, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|publisher=Gannett Company|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162310/http://www.zydecoonline.com/dev/index.php?name=News&file=print&sid=448|archive-date=July 18, 2011}} The effort was led by musician Terrance Simien, along with his wife and manager Cynthia.{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/NEWS01/802110320|title=And the Grammy goes to... Terrance Simien; see photos from Los Angeles|date=February 11, 2008|access-date=April 21, 2011|first=Herman|last=Fuselier|work=The Daily Advertiser|location=Lafayette, Louisiana|publisher=Gannett Company|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313134712/http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080211%2FNEWS01%2F802110320|archive-date=March 13, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Music/2008/0208/p12s03-almp.html|title=At Grammys, zydeco music gets a spark of renewal|first=Matthew|last=Shaer|access-date=April 27, 2011|date=February 8, 2008|work=The Christian Science Monitor|publisher=Christian Science Publishing Society|pages=1–2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128070043/http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Music/2008/0208/p12s03-almp.html|archive-date=January 28, 2011|url-status=live}} Mitch Landrieu, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana at the time, also supported the effort.{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2011/04/cajun_and_zydeco_among_the_cat.html|title=Zydeco and Cajun category among those eliminated from Grammy Awards|first=Keith|last=Spera|date=April 6, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|work=The Times-Picayune|publisher=Advance Publications|location=New Orleans, Louisiana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511162136/http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2011/04/cajun_and_zydeco_among_the_cat.html|archive-date=May 11, 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|url=http://www.offbeat.com/2005/07/01/the-prince-of-zydeco/|title=The Prince of Zydeco|date=July 1, 2005|access-date=April 29, 2011|journal=OffBeat|location=New Orleans, Louisiana|publisher=OffBeat, Inc.|first=Herman|last=Fuselier|issn=1090-0810|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928184334/http://www.offbeat.com/2005/07/01/the-prince-of-zydeco/|archive-date=September 28, 2011|url-status=live}} Cynthia, a trustee of the Memphis chapter of the Recording Academy, claimed hundreds of dollars and hours were invested in the lobbying effort she described as an "uphill battle". Prior to the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music category, works in the genre competed in the Best Contemporary Folk Album or Best Traditional Folk Album categories.{{cite news|url=http://www.projo.com/music/content/projo_20040219_pop219.1e3b1b.html|title=Music scene by Rick Massimo: Simien's zydeco embraces evolution|date=February 19, 2004|access-date=April 19, 2011|work=The Providence Journal|publisher=A. H. Belo|location=Providence, Rhode Island|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040313194659/http://www.projo.com/music/content/projo_20040219_pop219.1e3b1b.html|archive-date=March 13, 2004|url-status=live}}

Image:TerranceSimien.jpg of the 2008 award-winning band Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, performing in 2008]]

For the 50th Annual Grammy Awards (2008), Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album nominees included Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie for Le Cowboy Creole, Lisa Haley for King Cake, The Lost Bayou Ramblers for Live: Á La Blue Moon, the French language cajun band Pine Leaf Boys for their second album Blues de Musicien,{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18764764|title=Pine Leaf Boys: Keeping Cajun Music Alive|first=Jason|last=Beaubien|access-date=April 16, 2011|publisher=NPR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504131909/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18764764|archive-date=May 4, 2011|url-status=live}} Racines for Racines, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars for The La Louisianne Sessions, and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience for Live! Worldwide.{{cite news|url=http://www.klfy.com/story/7840798/road-to-the-grammys?redirected=true|title=Road to the Grammy's|first=Darla|last=Montgomery|date=February 7, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2011|publisher=KLFY-TV|location=Lafayette, Louisiana|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726170431/http://www.klfy.com/story/7840798/road-to-the-grammys?redirected=true|archive-date=July 26, 2011}} Of the seven nominees, only one was based outside Lafayette, Louisiana. Le Cowboy Creole, Delafose's fifth album, contained cover versions of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land", the Commodores' "Easy", The Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved", Ronnie Milsap's "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me", and Van Morrison's "Domino".{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/le-cowboy-creole-r1112610/review|title=Le Cowboy Creole|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=April 19, 2011|first=William|last=Ruhlmann}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS01/802030338/1002|title=Grammy nominee Geno Delafose: Tried and true success; experience Acadiana music in The Rhythm Section|date=February 2, 2008|access-date=April 29, 2011|location=Lafayette, Louisiana|work=The Daily Advertiser|publisher=Gannett Company|first=Herman|last=Fuselier|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313140302/http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080203%2FNEWS01%2F802030338%2F1002|archive-date=March 13, 2012}} Blues de Musician included a French adaptation of the country music song "The Wild Side of Life".{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/blues-de-musicien-r952818|title=Blues de Musicien|first=Rick|last=Anderson|access-date=April 19, 2011|publisher=Allmusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709071248/http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-de-musicien-r952818|archive-date=July 9, 2011|url-status=live}} Live! Worldwide contained recordings of live performances from around the world during Simien's 25-year career, including "The Star-Spangled Banner" and traditional songs such as "Zydeco Boogaloo" and Boozoo Chavis' "Uncle Bud". Simien and the Zydeco Experience performed as the opening act to the pre-telecast for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony. The award was presented to Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, members of which included Jose Alvarez, Ralph Fontenot, Keith Sonnier, William Terry, and Danny Williams. Joshua Murrell was also recognized as the engineer and producer of the album. Simien was described as "exuberant" during his acceptance speech in which he acknowledged the five other nominees. Simien and his band were also honored by Billboard, which ranked their live performance in support of the album as one of the top ten acts of the year.{{cite news|url=http://tribune-democrat.com/events/x519154642/Zydeco-master-brings-the-heat-to-Pasquerilla-arts-center-Feb-7|title=Zydeco master brings the heat to Pasquerilla arts center Feb. 7|date=January 18, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2011|first=Ruth|last=Rice|work=The Tribune-Democrat|location=Johnstown, Pennsylvania|publisher=Community Newspaper Holdings|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716043357/http://tribune-democrat.com/events/x519154642/Zydeco-master-brings-the-heat-to-Pasquerilla-arts-center-Feb-7|archive-date=July 16, 2012|url-status=live}}

Image:Michaeldoucet.jpg of BeauSoleil, performing in 2008]]

2009 nominees included BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet for Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Michael Doucet for From Now On, Pine Leaf Boys for Homage Au Passé, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys for Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Cedric Watson for Cedric Watson. Doucet, the founder, lead singer and fiddler of BeauSoleil,{{Cite web |last=Hahn |first=Roger |title=BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet |url=https://64parishes.org/entry/beausoleil-avec-michael-doucet |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=64 Parishes |language=en}} is the only artist to receive more than one nomination for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album within the same year. According to Doucet, From Now On was recorded "live in three sessions with no rehearsals, overdubs, or song lists." The album contains original tracks, covers by Hoagy Carmichael and Allen Toussaint, and standards such as "St. Louis Blues" and "You Gotta Move".{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/from-now-on-r1341496/review|first=Richie|last=Unterberger|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=April 28, 2011|title=From Now On}} The award was presented to BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022601095.html|title=BeauSoleil Dishes Up Musical 'Gumbo'|first=Geoffrey|last=Himes|date=February 27, 2009|access-date=April 19, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112072411/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022601095.html|archive-date=November 12, 2012|url-status=live}} Recipients included Doucet, band members Tommy Alesi, Jimmy Breaux, David Doucet, Mitchell Reed, Billy Ware, and Ben Williams, along with Eli Kelly and Woods Drinkwater as engineers.{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2009/07/loyola_alum_woods_drinkwater_w.html|title=Loyola alum Woods Drinkwater wins Grammy|date=July 7, 2009|access-date=April 19, 2011|first=Maria C.|last=Montoya|work=The Times-Picayune|publisher=Advance Publications|location=New Orleans, Louisiana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018222520/http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2009/07/loyola_alum_woods_drinkwater_w.html|archive-date=October 18, 2012|url-status=live}} BeauSoleil's set was recorded in April 2008 and released with the group's approval without further involvement. According to Michael Doucet, the album "was on iTunes, and then all of a sudden it was nominated for a Grammy."

Image:Chubby Carrier knuckleheads.png of the 2011 award-winning group Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band in 2010]]

Nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010 included BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet for Alligator Purse, Buckwheat Zydeco (stage name for Stanley Dural, Jr.) for Lay Your Burden Down, The Magnolia Sisters for Stripped Down, Pine Leaf Boys for Live at 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole for L'Ésprit Créole. Alligator Purse included guest appearances by Garth Hudson of The Band, Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs, Roswell Rudd, and John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful.{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/alligator-purse-r1448327|title=Alligator Purse|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=April 28, 2011|first=James Christopher|last=Monger|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426105039/http://www.allmusic.com/album/alligator-purse-r1448327|archive-date=April 26, 2011}} Lay Your Burden Down reunited Dural with producer Steve Berlin and contained versions of Captain Beefheart's "Too Much Time", Jimmy Cliff's "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah", Gov't Mule's "Lay Your Burden Down", Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks", and Bruce Springsteen's "Back in Your Arms".{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/lay-your-burden-down-r1539674/review|title=Lay Your Burden Down|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=April 28, 2011|first=Steve|last=Leggett}} Members of The Magnolia Sisters, an all-female cajun group of multi-instrumentalists, included Anya Burgess, Ann Savoy, Lisa Trahan and Jane Vidrine.{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/stripped-down-r1612317/review|title=Stripped Down|first=Steve|last=Leggett|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=April 28, 2011}} The award was presented to Buckwheat Zydeco, members of which included Reginald Dural, Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Michael Melchione, Kevin Menard, Olivier Scoazec, Curtis Watson, and Lee Allen Zeno. David Farrell and Steven Maxwell Berlin were also honored as the engineer/mixer and producer of the album, respectively.

For the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards (2011), the nominees were Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band for Zydeco Junkie, Feufollet for En Couleurs, D. L. Menard for Happy Go Lucky, the Pine Leaf Boys for Back Home, and Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole for Creole Moon: Live at the Blue Moon Saloon. 2011 marked the fourth consecutive nomination for the Pine Leaf Boys.{{cite news|url=http://www.projo.com/music/content/CONNECT-GRAMMYS_02-08-11_TSM9EF8_v14.9d18be.html|title='Afternoon Grammys' often ignored but not by the nominees|first=Rick|last=Massimo|date=February 8, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2011|work=The Providence Journal|publisher=A. H. Belo|location=Providence, Rhode Island}} Group member Wilson Savoy was unable to attend the award ceremony, but admitted the nominations have "acted as vindication" of their "new-traditionalist sound". Zydeco Junkie, released through Carrier's own record label Swampadelic Records, featured his "trademark party songs" and an "accordion-flavored" cover of "Movin' On Up", the theme song for the television series The Jeffersons.{{cite news|url=http://www.kadn.com/news/chubby-carrier-achieves-a-lifelong-dream-a-grammy-award|title=Chubby Carrier achieves a lifelong dream, a Grammy award!|first=Latricia|last=Thornton|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|publisher=KADN-TV|location=Lafayette, Louisiana|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723002753/http://www.kadn.com/news/chubby-carrier-achieves-a-lifelong-dream-a-grammy-award|archive-date=July 23, 2011}} Geno Delafose and Jamie Bergeron made guest appearances on the album. The award was presented to Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band.{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-13/entertainment/28616177_1_jeff-beck-shawn-carter-john-legend/3|title=Grammys 2011: Complete list of winners|page=3|date=February 13, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|work=Daily News|location=New York City, New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426191509/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-13/entertainment/28616177_1_jeff-beck-shawn-carter-john-legend/3|archive-date=April 26, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In 2011, the category Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album was eliminated along with thirty others due to a major overhaul by the Recording Academy.{{cite web | url=https://www.offbeat.com/news/cajun-zydeco-and-other-grammy-awards-eliminated/ | title=Cajun/Zydeco and Other Grammy Awards Eliminated | date=6 April 2011 | publisher=OffBeat Magazine | access-date=27 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917221340/https://www.offbeat.com/news/cajun-zydeco-and-other-grammy-awards-eliminated/ | archive-date=17 September 2016 | url-status=live }} Four additional categories in the American Roots Music field were eliminated (Best Contemporary Folk Album, Best Hawaiian Music Album, Best Native American Music Album, Best Traditional Folk Album).{{cite news|url=http://www.fox44now.com/story/14430501/grammy-for-best-zydeco-or-cajun-album-goes-to-chubby-carrier-and-the-bayou-swamp-band?redirected=true|title=Grammy for Best Zydeco or Cajun Album Goes to Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band|year=2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|publisher=WFFF-TV|location=Burlington, Vermont}} Zydeco and cajun works became eligible for the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. Chubby Carrier was reportedly "broken-hearted" by the news, and concerned that the category's elimination would not give the music genre the attention deserved.{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20110406/ENTERTAINMENT/110406018|title=Grammys eliminate Cajun/Zydeco category|date=April 6, 2011|first=Cody|last=Daigle|location=Lafayette, Louisiana|work=The Daily Advertiser|access-date=April 16, 2011|publisher=Gannett Company}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}} Carrier stated: "This category inspired musicians to fight for the music. It strengthened us. I'd say to all the young zydeco musicians out there; don't give up this fight." Simien also expressed sadness and called the elimination "a disappointment for local music". Showing signs of optimism, Terrance Simien said: "The category might be gone today, but we'll get it back."

{{Portal|Music|United States}}

• Cajun French Music Association
• History of Cajun music
• List of people related to Cajun music
• Music of Louisiana
• Zydeco (dance)

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• {{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=All&genre=59|title=Past Winners Search: American Roots|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=May 1, 2011}}

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{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110221031214/http://zydecoandcajunmusic.org/ ZydecoAndCajunMusic.org] – the official site for the Grammy category
• {{YouTube|id=Bf35s4-QNlQ|title=Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band accept the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album – 53rd GRAMMY Pre-Telecast}}

{{Grammy Award years}}

{{Good article}}

Category:2008 establishments in the United States

Category:2011 disestablishments in the United States

Category:Album awards

Category:Awards disestablished in 2011

Category:Awards established in 2008

Zydeco

Category:Cajun music

Category:Zydeco