Terrance Simien Adds A New CD To His Already Stellar Career

Terrance Simien Adds A New CD To His Already Stellar Career

"Dockside Sessions" Includes 10 Classic and Bilingual Originals

July 10, 2013

by Herman Fusilier
The Times

Terrance Simien and Zydeco Experience perform during the pretelecast ceremony at the 50th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. In 2008, Simien won the first Grammy for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album. (Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro, USA Today)

In the early 1980s, Terrace Simien was a teenager growing up in the tiny St. Landry Parish hamlet of Mallet. His future seemed pretty clear.

Simien would be a bricklayer or a welder, maybe play a little zydeco music on the weekends. But 32 years, 7,000 performances, 45 countries and one Grammy later, Simien remains in awe of his life as a musician.

“This is way better than I expected,” said Simien. “I look back and think about how good it’s been and how hard it’s been. I’ve been married 23 years, but most of my time is on the road. But we do half the year on the road, half at home, so it’s not too bad. When I first started, it was a lot more than that.

“I can’t complain for nothing. God has been with me the whole way. You think about all the miles just driving. We never had anything really bad to happen to us on the road. I’ve seen a lot of other people get in bad accidents. We’ve been fortunate and that has to do with prayers and not taking chances.

“I have my mama, who’s a saint. She’s been praying for us. We just feel very, very fortunate after 32 years, it’s still going strong.”

Simien keeps his career growing with a new CD, “Dockside Sessions,” recorded at Dockside Studio in Maurice. Hidden on a 12-acre estate on the banks of the Vermilion River, Dockside has produced eight Grammy-winning CDs and sports an extensive client list that ranges from stars like B.B. King, Scarlett Johansson and Mavis Staples to local zydeco, Cajun and rock bands.

Dockside uses vintage Neve recording equipment that has garnered a reputation for its warm sound.

www.TerranceSimien.com

“Dockside Sessions” was originally planned to be a zydeco tribute to Bob Dylan, one of Simien’s music idols. Simien called on his old friend George Receli, Dylan’s drummer for the past 13 years, to produce the CD.

The 10-song disc includes three Dylan originals — “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” “If Not For You” and “You Go Your Way.” But the project expanded to include some bilingual originals from Simien, along with “Ava Magnolia,” a Receli original that spotlights Simien’s daughter Marcella singing in French.

Heralded blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd performs on “Ava Magnolia” and the Grateful Dead classic, “Franklin’s Tower.” Singer Shannon McNally makes a guest appearance on “If Not For You.”

“It was awesome working with those artists,” said Simien. “Kenny Wayne is just an unbelievable artist. He added something that no other artist could add. So did Shannon. Working with Marcella is always special. That’s the first time she’s featured out front on one of our records.

“She just graduated from Memphis College of the Arts, and she’s living in Memphis. She’s playing music there with a solo piano gig and some accordion at Molly Fontaine’s restaurant. She also has a band. We’re so proud of what she’s done.”

Simien’s “Dockside” CD continues a remarkable music career that’s allowed him to blossom into a cultural advocate. With more than a million miles touring, Simien has shared the stage and studio with Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer, Los Lobos, the Dave Matthews Band and other stars.

His image and music have appeared in movies, such as “The Big Easy,” Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog” and “The Lucky One.” The Louisiana Office of Tourism is using his image in their print, web and TV ads.

For seven years, Simien and his wife Cynthia worked to establish a Grammy for zydeco and Cajun music. Simien won the first Grammy in that category in 2007. Simien’s arts-in-education program, Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco, has been presented to more than 500,000 students across the globe.

After touring the Midwest and West Coast this year, Simien returns to Lafayette to begin work on a documentary on zydeco music.

Simien said after three decades, his career remains as fresh as ever.

“I thought by the time I’d reach 20, 25 years, I’d say it’s time to take a break. But the older I get, the more I want to do it. I realize how fortunate I am that I’m able to do this.

“I never lose sight that I’m standing on the shoulders of greatness — people like Clifton Chenier, Amede Ardoin, Rockin’ Sidney, Rockin’ Dopsie, Boozoo Chavis, John Delafose, Luke Collins, all these people that laid the foundation for what we’re benefiting from now. Bois Sec (Ardoin) and Canray (Fontenot) were playing the Newport Folk Festival in the ’60s, when Bob Dylan went electric. We have such a history, and we have an obligation to respect what they did by doing our best. The next generation is going to be depending on what we do, so that they can make it.

“You have to get older to understand that. I really appreciate it and I actually look forward to every gig. It’s a beautiful thing.” 

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