Biography
Fernest Arceneaux (August 27, 1940 – September 4, 2008) was a French-speaking Creole Zydeco accordionist and singer from Louisiana who became known as 'The New Prince of Accordion' for his virtuosic playing. Born to a large sharecropping family in Carencro, Louisiana, Arceneaux first picked up his brother-in-law's accordion as a child and learned to play by copying his father, Ferdinand Arceneaux, a Creole accordionist whom he backed at local house parties. His early musical education was rooted in the traditional Creole music of rural Louisiana, which would shape his distinctive style throughout his career.
By the 1960s, Arceneaux had temporarily shifted away from accordion to pursue rock and roll, forming the band Fernest and the Thunders and playing guitar. However, in 1978, at the behest of his musical hero Clifton Chenier, he returned to the accordion and rediscovered his passion for zydeco music. That same year, Belgian blues enthusiast Robert Sacre discovered Arceneaux and his band, leading to the recording of their first album and extensive touring, particularly throughout Europe. This marked the beginning of his most productive period, during which he recorded numerous albums under various band names including Fernest Arceneaux and the Zydeco All Stars and Fernest Arceneaux & His Louisiana French Band.
Arceneaux's legacy extended beyond his own performances to influencing the next generation of zydeco musicians. His great-nephew Corey Arceneaux toured with him for a year in 1991 before forming his own band, Corey Arceneaux and the Zydeco Hot Peppers, with Fernest serving as his initial inspiration for taking up the accordion. Throughout his career spanning from the 1960s to the 2000s, Arceneaux remained a vital figure in preserving and advancing the zydeco tradition, earning international recognition and respect within the Louisiana Creole music community.
Fun Facts
- Arceneaux's full name was John 'Fernest' Arceneaux, and he first learned accordion by picking up his brother-in-law's instrument as a child while working in the fields of rural Louisiana.
- He earned the prestigious title 'The New Prince of Accordion' in recognition of his virtuosic accordion playing, a title that reflected his mastery of the instrument and his place in the zydeco tradition.
- After spending the 1960s playing guitar in a rock and roll band called Fernest and the Thunders, Arceneaux made a dramatic return to his accordion roots in 1978 at age 38, launching a second major phase of his career that lasted until the 2000s.
- Arceneaux achieved significant international recognition, particularly in Europe, through extensive touring and recordings on European record labels including Ornament Records and Schubert Records in Germany.
Associated Acts
- Fernest & the Thunders
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Ferdinand Arceneaux - Father and primary musical teacher; Fernest learned accordion by copying his father's playing at local house parties (Traditional Creole accordion music) [1940s-1950s]
- Clifton Chenier - Musical hero and inspiration who convinced Arceneaux to return to accordion after his rock and roll period (Zydeco music) [1978]
Key Collaborators
- Robert Sacre - Belgian blues enthusiast who discovered Arceneaux and his band in 1978, facilitating their first recording and European tours (First album and subsequent recordings) [1978 onwards]
- Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. - Special guest collaborator on zydeco recordings (Zydeco Blues Party album) [1994]
Artists Influenced
- Corey Arceneaux - Great-nephew who was inspired by Fernest to take up accordion; toured with him for a year before forming his own band (Corey Arceneaux and the Zydeco Hot Peppers) [1991 onwards]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Zydeco Stomp (2012 Remix) | 2012-06-11 | Album |
| Old School Zydeco | 2000 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Don't Mess With My Toot Toot (Zydeco Blues Party)
- My Negress (Pine Grive Blues) (Zydeco Blues Party)
- Zydeco Boogaloo (Zydeco Blues Party)
- I'm on My Way Back Home (Zydeco Blues Party)
- My Negress (Pine Grove Blues) (Ultimate New Orleans)
- Going Back To Big Mamou (Ultimate Zydeco)
- It's Alright (Zydeco Stomp (2012 Remix))
- I'm on My Way Back Home (Ultimate Zydeco)
- Last Night (Zydeco Blues Party)
- Bernadette (Zydeco Blues Party)
External Links
Tags: #zydeco
Heard on WWOZ
Fernest Arceneaux has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2025 | 13:56 | When the Saints go marchin infrom Old School Zydeco | Cajun and Zydecow/ Charles Laborde or Jim Hobbs |