Grammy Winner Terrance Simien Visits KTDY

South Louisiana is a place where "music grows up from the ground" (to borrow a phrase). Terrance Simien is a great example.

The St. Landry Parish native has been immersed in music since childhood, first learning to play piano, later trumpet & accordion. He sang in the church choir.

Terrance jumped into the Zydeco music scene at an important time, when many of the best known names in the genre were aging and ultimately leaving us. On his recent visit, Terrance seemed almost as pleased with the posthumous lifetime acheivement award the academy bestowed upon the late Clifton Chenier as with his own.

Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience won the first Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Album in 2008.  The award is no longer being given. Their 2013 release, "Dockside Sessions" just recently was awarded the Grammy for Best Regional Roots Recording. Terrance dropped by the station, and we spent about an hour and a half together, talking about life, music & family, on the air and off. "Dockside Sessions'' was originally to be Terrance's stylings of Bob Dylan songs. Creative projects evolve. The CD contains some original Zydeco tunes as well. Guest musicians include Terrance's daughter Marcella Simien, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Shannon McNally, and Bob Dylan's longtime drummer, George Receli. We played 5 tracks from the CD. He left me a signed copy.  When I told Terrance I've never visited Dockside Studios, he said "We'll go to Dockside!" I'm going to hold him to that.