Episode 18-25: Terrence Simien

About This Episode

Terrance Simien is an American zydeco musician, vocalist and
songwriter. Simien is an eighth generation Creole from one of the
earliest Creole families documented to have settled in the Mallet
area of St. Landry Parish.


While in his teens, he taught himself to play accordion 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 in his early 20's and one
of only two (Sam Brothers was the other) emerging zydeco artists
leading a band and performing their 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
continuing the traditions.


Simien and his band have toured internationally, presenting over
7000 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. He has appeared on screen and
contributed to the soundtracks of multiple movies, 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 business partner/wife, Cynthia, are active in
Creole music education and advocacy. They created the "Creole for
Kidz & The History of Zydeco" performing arts program, which
provides informational performances to K-12 students, teachers
and parents. Since it was created in 2001, Creole for Kidz has
reached nearly 500,000 students, parents and teachers in more
than 20 states, Mali, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Paraguay,
Canada and Australia. The Simiens understand the importance of
mentoring emerging artists and created MusicMatters, Inc., a
non-profit for education and advocacy.


In 2007, the Simiens helped establish a new Grammy voting
category, Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album.[10][11] 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.
About Michael Perry

Michael Perry is a New York Times bestselling author, humorist
and radio show host from New Auburn, Wisconsin.


Perry’s bestselling memoirs include Population 485, Truck: A Love
Story, Coop, and Visiting Tom, and his latest, Montaigne in Barn
Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy. His first book for
young readers, The Scavengers, was published in 2014 and first
novel for adult readers, The Jesus Cow, was published in May of
2015.


Raised on a small Midwestern dairy farm, Perry put himself
through nursing school while working on a ranch in Wyoming, then
wandered into writing. He lives with his wife and two daughters
in rural Wisconsin, where he serves on the local volunteer fire
and rescue service and is an intermittent pig farmer. He hosts
the nationally-syndicated “Tent Show Radio,” performs widely as a
humorist, and tours with his band the Long Beds (currently
recording their third album for Amble Down Records). He has
recorded three live humor albums including Never Stand Behind A
Sneezing Cow and The Clodhopper Monologues.


Learn more about Michael and where to get his publications at
www.sneezingcow.com.


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