—TERRANCE SIMIEN—Two-time grammy winner — Representing 2x GRAMMY award winning, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience | 40 years of legendary live performances | Tours w/ Los Lobos, Dave Matthews Band and the late Robert Palmer | Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco | Film, TV and Disney.
Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today. He and his band mates have performed nearly 10,000 concerts, toured millions of miles to over 45 countries during their eventful career. Their music has been placed in multiple major studio theatre release films, including a Disney animated film, TV shows and radio commercials. They’ve been cultural ambassadors for their country since the mid 1980’s as part of the U.S,. State Department ongoing cultural diplomacy tours. They performed in Ukraine twice (2012, 2015) with the U.S. Embassy in Kiev and toured Russia for two weeks as well in 2015. For over 40+ years, 8th generation Louisiana Creole, Simien has been shattering the myths and often misinformation, about what his traditional Zydeco roots music is – and is not. It most certainly is Black American roots music and it is music born of the African American/Black and mixed race French speaking Creoles of South Louisiana. This is the truth and these are the facts.
Simien leads a highly skilled Zydeco Experience band with long time band member, close friend and creative collaborator: Danny Williams (30+ years, two-GRAMMY award winning), keyboards, vocals; Stan Chambers (15+ years, GRAMMY award winning), bass, vocals; Ian Molinaro – Thompson, drums; Michael Christie on trumpet and Noah Boshra, saxophone. Ian MT is a Berklee College of Music graduate and Mike a Shenandoah University graduate ( SU is in the top 10% of music programs in the country). Another Berklee College grad, Ethan Santos, trombone, also lends his skills to us on tour at times. Noah Boshran, joining us in 2024, is a Tulane graduate.