Clifton Tribute Advertises St. Landry

Clifton Tribute Advertises St. Landry

BOBBY ARDOIN

St. Landry Now.com Editor

The 2025 Clifton Chenier Centennial Tribute has apparently become significant in helping promote Opelousas and St. Landry Parish tourism.

Parish tourism director Herman Fuselier, who has followed the biography and musical career of Chenier, the acknowledged King of Zydeco,said a recently released tribute album prominently mentions St. Landry and the Opelousas.

Fuselier told Opelousas Noon Rotary Club members on Tuesday that the album features 14 internationally known and local artists performing cover tributes on the album that Fuselier highlighted during a presentation.

What is important to note, Fuselier said, is the album release is developing into an influential tourism tool for St. Landry.

“I think (the album) is going to be great for tourism. The album itself is doing well. It has reached number one on the Billboard compilation chart and on a number of charts in other countries,” said Fuselier.

Chenier, born on June 25, 1925, in the Prairie Laurent area, has proven to be a cultural ambassador for St. Landry, said Fuselier.

In addition to the tribute album which has Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger performing a Chenier-composed song in Cajun French, Chenier’s accumulated musical achievements have helped place the parish on the map, Fuselier added.

Perhaps the most important musical award presented to Chenier, is the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

That award places Chenier among musical icons such as Johnny Cash, James Brown, Michael Jackson and Prince, said Fuselier, who is in his seventh year as parish tourism director.

Some of the Chenier musical collections featuring his lyrics and voice, are available in the U.S. Library of Congress.

Fuselier said that in order to also celebrate the Centennial, the Commission acted on an idea by Opelousas Main Street director Melanie LeBouef.

“We were looking for ways to make the centennial more visible and Melanie came up with the idea for a centennial pin, which is available at the Tourist Center,” said Fuselier.

Rotarians collected the pins, which can be placed on lapels.

So far the Tourist Center located at the Lebeau Interstate 49 connection, has also hosted a pair of Chenier tribute concerts, while there is also a good possibility that a Chenier statute, similar to the one featuring Amede Ardoin, will eventually be unveiled at the Tourist Center, Fuselier pointed out.

A boxed set of 67 Chenier songs, is scheduled for release later this year. In November Fuselier said there will be a Chenier tribute concert in Washington D.C.

Proceeds from the tribute album, said Fuselier, will be used to establish a Clifton Chenier scholarship.

The scholarship recipients will need to display an interest in learning to perform Zydeco music, said Fuselier.

Despite his death at 62, Chenier has continued to inspire Zydeco artists, said Fuselier.

“Corey Ledet, who is a two-time Grammy nominee, has often visited the gravesite of Clifton in Loreauville. Corey has claimed that during his visits, he has received needed inspiration for creating his Zydeco music,” Fuselier said.