StoryCorps

The King of Zydeco by Sidedoor: A Podcast from the Smithsonian

August 11, 2026·52 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

In this episode from our friends at Sidedoor, a podcast from the Smithsonian: Clifton Chenier grew up in rural Louisiana watching how his father’s accordion could magically turn front porches into dance parties. When he was old enough to play himself, Chenier began blending the Black Creole music of his childhood with R&B and blues sounds of the 1940s and ’50s. Through rare archival recordings and firsthand stories, Sidedoor traces Chenier’s journey from a sharecropper’s son to the undisputed King of Zydeco.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

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