A musical portrait of Zydeco King Clifton Chenier, who combines the pulsating rhythms of Cajun dance music and black R&B with African overtones, belting out his irresistible music in the sweaty juke joints of South Louisiana.
Direction
Les Blank's immersive verité—you can smell the beer and feel the humidity.
Sound
Chenier's accordion and frottoir create pure, propulsive sonic joy.
Director
Les Blank
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chenier essentially invented modern Zydeco by electrifying traditional French Louisiana la-la music with R&B rhythms, creating a genre that didn't exist before him.
Les Blank shot this between bites of his beloved spicy food—he was notorious for filming while eating peppers that would incapacitate his crew.
US
