“There is no such thing as a ‘can’t happen’, dream big and don’t be embarrassed by about dreaming big because the dream is where it all starts. You know what makes that dream a reality... perseverance.”
Terrence not only shared his extensive experiences traveling the world, he taught our delegation a few French phrases and instilled pride in our great state of Louisiana. He enlisted two delegates to join him on the rub board and entertained the delegation with a little Zydeco! Thank you Terrance Simien for sharing your time and talent with us!
MEET TERRANCE SIMIEN
Terrance Simien is zydeco musician, vocalist and songwriter. He and his band, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, won the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album for 2008.
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.
In the early 1980s, Simien was a youth in his early 20's and one of only two emerging zydeco artists leading a band and performing their indigenous zydeco roots music.
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
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.
Simien is considered to be one of the most gifted vocalists, engaging performers and innovative recording artists in American roots music.