C.J. Chenier was literally born into the musical tradition of southwest Louisiana and Texas Zydeco, a chugging, accordion- led blend of French Creole and African-derived influences. Born the son of great Zydeco king Clifton Chenier, the first GRAMMYr Award winning musician in the genre, the young Chenier was totally immersed in R&B, funk and jazz from childhood. Despite his family ties, or maybe because of them, Chenier was not terribly interested in his father's music as a teenager and he spent his college years exploring his own musical style. Chenier's interest in the music of his ancestors grew and after graduating from college, he joined his father's legendary Red Hot Louisiana Band. Chenier assumed leadership of the band following his father's death in 1987. While he continued to develop his personal accordion style, Chenier also gradually began grafting on influences from his boyhood. He explains, I play it the way I play it. All my father really told me was to do the best I could do with my own style.