Rockin 'Sidney

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Chart positions
Explanation of the data
Albums
My Toot Toot
  US 166 08/31/1985 (4 weeks)
Singles
My Toot Toot
  CH 8th 07/21/1985 (10 weeks)
  UK 91 07/06/1985 (3 weeks)

Sidney Simien (* 9. April 1938 in Lebeau, Louisiana ; † 25. February 1998 in Lake Charles , Louisiana), also known as Rockin 'Sidney and Count Rockin' Sidney , was an American R & B - Zydeco - and Soul - Musician who made his first recordings in the 1950s and was active as a musician until his death. His biggest hit was the 1984 Zydeco song My Toot Toot .

Live and act

Simien was born in the small town of Lebeau, Louisiana . His family had French Creole roots. He played guitar and harmonica at a young age, and as a teenager he played in his uncle's band. Soon he had his own band, Sidney Simien and His All Stars. In 1956, at the age of 18, he made his first recording, Make Me Understand .

At the beginning of his career, Simien played R&B in the style of Slim Harpo and Cookie & The Cupcakes . He released a number of singles on various record labels. In 1962 he had a local hit with No Good Woman .

In 1965 Simien moved to Lake Charles and got a contract with Goldbrand Records. He now wore a turban and called himself "Count Rockin 'Sidney". By 1970 he recorded a number of R&B, soul and blues singles without making a big breakthrough.

In the 1970s Simien performed solo in hotels, where he accompanied himself on an organ. Around 1980 he began to play the Clifton Chenier style zydeco with an accordion . In 1982 he brought out his first Zydeco album Give Me a Good Time Woman , on which he played all the instruments himself. My Toot Toot made him internationally known in 1984 , and he received a Grammy Award in 1986 for the song, which sold millions of copies. Articles about Rockin 'Sidney have appeared in numerous magazines and he has appeared on popular television shows. My Toot Toot was by many musicians gecovert , including Fats Domino , Rosie Ledet, Jean Knight, Terrance Simien, Doug Kershaw, Denise LaSalle , Jimmy C. Newman and John Fogerty .

With the proceeds from My Toot Toot , Simien bought a radio station and club in Lake Charles, and ran his own record label, ZBC Records. He continued to tour and release albums in the States and Europe. In 1998 he died of throat cancer.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Chart sources: CH UK US
  2. ↑ Allmusic, see web links
  3. ↑ a b c d e Jeff Hannusch: Masters Of Louisiana Music: Rocking 'Sidney Simien . Offbeat, July 1, 2002 (English)
personal data
SURNAME Rockin 'Sidney
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Simien, Sidney (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American R&B, zydeco, and soul musician
DATE OF BIRTH April 9, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Lebeau, Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH February 25, 1998
Place of death Lake Charles , Louisiana