Terrance Simien
Encyclopedia
Terrance Simien is an American
zydeco
musician, vocalist and song writer. He and his band won the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
for 2007.
Simien is an eighth generation Creole from one of the earliest Creole
families documented to have settled the Mallet area of St. Landry Parish
. He was introduced to music via the piano
at home, the Catholic Church choir and in school band programs where he played trumpet
.
While in his teens he taught himself to play accordion
a teenager and formed his first band Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys, and began to play the regional zydeco club and church hall circuit. In the early 1980s, Simien was a youth in his early 20's and one of only a handful of new emerging zydeco artists leading a band and performing indigenous zydeco roots music
. This was a pivotal time in zydeco music history since the pioneers of the genre were aging and the music was in jeopardy of dying off without the critical presence of emerging artists perpetuating the traditions.
Simien and his band have toured internationally, presenting thousands of live performances in more than 40 countries, and released dozens of solo recordings and collaborations. He has shared studio and stage with the likes of Paul Simon
, Dr. John
, The Meters
, Marcia Ball
, Dave Matthews
, Stevie Wonder
, Robert Palmer and the roots rockers Los Lobos
.
Simien has appeared on screen and contributed to the soundtrack
s of multiple movie feature and television films and commercials. He appears on the soundtrack of the Disney
film, The Princess and the Frog set in the French Quarter
of New Orleans, featuring authentic Louisiana music scored by Randy Newman
. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of movies such as The Big Easy, Exit To Eden
and A Murder Of Crows
.
Simien and his wife Cynthia are active in Creole music education and advocacy. They created the "Creole for Kidz" program which provides educational performances of Creole music and history. Creole for Kidz has reached 200,000 students, parents and teachers in more than 20 states, Mali, Paraguay, Canada and Australia. The Simiens also created an outreach and mentoring program for up-and-coming musicians called MusicMatters.
In 2007, the Simiens helped establish a new Grammy voting category Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album. His group, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
were the first ensemble to win a Grammy in that same category in 2008.
He is considered to be one of the most gifted vocalists, engaging performers and innovative recording artists in American roots music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
musician, vocalist and song writer. He and his band won the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
The Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album was an honor presented to recording artists at the 50th, 51st, 52nd and 53rd Grammy Awards for quality zydeco or cajun music albums...
for 2007.
Simien is an eighth generation Creole from one of the earliest Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
families documented to have settled the Mallet area of St. Landry Parish
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St...
. He was introduced to music via the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at home, the Catholic Church choir and in school band programs where he played trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
.
While in his teens he taught himself to play accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
a teenager and formed his first band Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys, and began to play the regional zydeco club and church hall circuit. In the early 1980s, Simien was a youth in his early 20's and one of only a handful of new emerging zydeco artists leading a band and performing indigenous zydeco roots music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
. This was a pivotal time in zydeco music history since the pioneers of the genre were aging and the music was in jeopardy of dying off without the critical presence of emerging artists perpetuating the traditions.
Simien and his band have toured internationally, presenting thousands of live performances in more than 40 countries, and released dozens of solo recordings and collaborations. He has shared studio and stage with the likes of Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
, Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball is an American blues singer and pianist, born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana. She was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist.....
, Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Robert Palmer and the roots rockers Los Lobos
Los Lobos
Los Lobos are a multiple Grammy Award–winning American Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños.-History:The...
.
Simien has appeared on screen and contributed to the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s of multiple movie feature and television films and commercials. He appears on the soundtrack of the Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
film, The Princess and the Frog set in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans, featuring authentic Louisiana music scored by Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of movies such as The Big Easy, Exit To Eden
Exit To Eden (film)
Exit to Eden is a 1994 American comedy-thriller loosely based on the Anne Rice novel of the same name, directed by Garry Marshall and adapted to the screen by Deborah Amelon and Bob Brunner. The original music score was composed by Patrick Doyle....
and A Murder Of Crows
A Murder of Crows (film)
A Murder of Crows is a 1999 thriller film directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Tom Berenger.-Plot synopsis:Lawson Russell is a Louisiana-based criminal lawyer who gets disbarred for committing a mistrial. After that, he retires to Key West and decides to write a book...
.
Simien and his wife Cynthia are active in Creole music education and advocacy. They created the "Creole for Kidz" program which provides educational performances of Creole music and history. Creole for Kidz has reached 200,000 students, parents and teachers in more than 20 states, Mali, Paraguay, Canada and Australia. The Simiens also created an outreach and mentoring program for up-and-coming musicians called MusicMatters.
In 2007, the Simiens helped establish a new Grammy voting category Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album. His group, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience is a Zydeco band from Louisiana led by Terrance Simien.-Awards:Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience won a Grammy award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album for their album Live! Worldwide.-Discography:...
were the first ensemble to win a Grammy in that same category in 2008.
He is considered to be one of the most gifted vocalists, engaging performers and innovative recording artists in American roots music.
External links
- Terrance Simien homepage
- Terrance Simien profile, from Louisiana State University at Eunice