Clifton Chenier’s “Bogalusa Boogie”

Studio 360

“When it comes dancing to zydeco, all you have to do is move something,” says musician C.J. Chenier.“It don’t matter how you move it, where you move it, just move something and it all fits and it’s going to feel good to you.His father, Clifton Chenier helped establish the genre in Louisiana and east Texas in the 1950s and 60s. His 1975 landmark record “Bogalusa Boogie”quickly became a hit and introduced cajun music to new audiences across the world.

This year the album was chosen for preservation in the National Recording Registryin the Library of Congress. Ann Savoy, a cajun music scholar, Chris Strachwitcz, the album’s producer, and C.J. tell the story of how the King of Zydeco earned his title.

Produced by Ben Manilla for BMP Audio.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!