“…That this music is getting recorded and released is by itself a good thing, but the fact that it comes out on audiophile vinyl is a whole lot of icing on the cake. As for the sound, this was analog like I remembered it (minus the hiss, wow, and flutter), with a warm, in-the-room feel from the drums, bass, and acoustic piano and a rich, full sound from acoustic guitars.” – Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound, April/May 2010

Born in Prairie Basse, Louisiana, in November 1941, Roscoe Chenier began his musical career at age 15, singing with Rockin’ CD and the Blues Runners. Two years later, he started his own band after adding guitar playing to his vocals. Since, he’s been a fixture on the southern Louisiana scene. He’s also revered in Europe, as are many American bluesmen, though his national touring has been limited.

In 1961, Chenier recorded a 45-RPM single for the Reynaud label. “Born For Bad Luck” backed with “Annie Mae’s Yo-Yo” was something of a regional hit and now fetches as much as $200 among European collectors. His self-titled full-length debut came in 1993 on the Avenue Jazz label. While it wound up being stocked in some record store’s jazz bins, the album, which was recorded at Vidrine Studios in Opelousas, Louisiana, is actually a collection of R&B and soul-tinged blues with a heavy Fats Domino sound. In 2001, the Black and Tan label released Roscoe Style.

Chenier, himself a member of the Louisiana Hall of Fame, is the second cousin of the late King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Though Roscoe favors blues, he does include some zydeco flavor in his music. As one reviewer put it, “it sounded like B.B. King and Clifton Chenier performing together.”