His fans honor Siemien
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
OPELOUSAS – For a history-making Grammy Award winner, Terrance Simien wasn’t one to stand on formality.
“Here, hold this,” Simien said to St. Landry Parish Tourism employee Pat Mason Guillory, casually handing her the first-ever Zydeco/Cajun Music Grammy as he signed into the welcome ceremony in his honor.
Simien’s album, Live! Worldwide, was selected out of seven nominees during the Grammy Awards ceremony of Feb. 10.
The ceremony, hosted by the tourism board in Opelousas, honored all the nominees for this first-ever award, but Simien - and his Grammy - were the stars of the program.
Hosted by Todd Ortego of KBON radio and Herman Fuselier, host of “Bayou Boogie” on KRVS served as Masters of Ceremony in the hour-long event recognizing the achievements of Simien and others.
Much of the congratulations, however, went to Simien, who, along with his wife Cynthia, spent several years working to get Cajun and Zydeco music recognized as its own music category.
Previously, Cajun and Zydeco music languished in the folk music category, while other cultural styles, such as Native American, Hawaiian and Salsa, each had their own categories.
“Our music is as important to the musical landscape of this country as any other art,” Cynthia Simien said of the effort to get Zydeco and Cajun music recognized.
Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins, Sr., thanked the Simiens for their efforts and issued an official declaration naming Terrance Simien an “Honorary Cultural Ambassador” of Opelousas.
“I don’t think we realize what a benefit this is for our entire region,” Cravins said.
In addition to Simien, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, the Pine Leaf Boys, the Racines, Ruddy Romero and the Hub City All-Stars and Lisa Haley were all nominated for the Grammy, and were presented plaques by parish tourism director Celeste Gomez.
All have deep roots to the Acadiana region - except Haley, who is from California and has no connection to Louisiana.
Simien joked that he called his mother the night before the Grammy Awards ceremony and asked her to pray. “I don’t care if I don’t win, just don’t let Lisa Haley win.”
Simien said that while he has nothing against Haley, he would prefer that the honors go to source musicians, that is, Cajun and Zydeco musicians with connections to Louisiana, where both art forms originated.
“In just about every state there are Zydeco and Cajun bands that have no connection to Louisiana,” Simien said. “When people hear this music for the first time, I want them to hear someone who’s doing it right.”
The Simiens urged local Cajun and Zydeco musicians to become involved in the Grammy nomination process and to ensure that future Cajun and Zydeco Grammys keep coming back to Louisiana.
“I’m not something big; I’m part of something big, and that something big is going to get bigger,” Simien said, adding, “My goal now is to get as many people as I can to become members.”
Contact information for Terrance Simien can be found at www.terrancesimien.com.