Zydeco artist to perform at St. Paul

For more than 30 years, two-time Grammy award-winning artist Terrance Simien, an 8th-generation Louisiana Creole, has performed his beloved zydeco music. Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today – he and his band mates have performed more 7,000 concerts and toured millions of miles.

On Thursday, April 7, Terrance Simien and his band will perform at 1:15 p.m. in the St. Paul Sanctuary. This free concert for Madison Elementary students and St. Paul families is also open to the public.

Simien was born in 1965 into the hippie folk and soul music era that still intrigues him today. He grew artistically being influenced and 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. Since 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.

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 Vaughn at the Bern Jazz Festival. His career exploded after that and Terrance remains a pivotal part of Zydeco music history.

Terrance and his loyal and skilled band mates, together have shared studio and 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. Their music has 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 late 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 recordings. His extensive discography dates back to vinyl 45’s.

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.