Happy Birthday! Nathan Williams & The Zydeco Cha Chas.

[JohnnyRingo]

Today is Nathan Williams 63rd birthday. He founded the Zydeco Cha Chas back in 1985. He learned to play accordion at 13 and began to play professionally at 21. His musical style combines elements of zydeco, jazz, blues and R&B. Williams writes most of the band's original tunes.

On his 1995 album Creole Crossroads, Williams teamed up with Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet from the band BeauSoleil. At the time, collaborations between zydeco and Cajun musicians were rare.

In 2008, Williams played accordion on Buddy Guy's album Skin Deep.

In 2013, he founded his own record label, Cha Cha Records, which releases albums by both Williams Sr. and Williams Jr.

In 2022, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas toured with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, playing 30 dates across the United States, promoted as the Mardi Gras Mambo Tour.

Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas were nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category, for Lucky Man.

When he is not touring, Williams runs a trucking company named Cha Cha Hot Shot Service that hauls equipment for the Louisiana oil and gas industry. So despite his success he never quit his day job.

"Can't Get Nothin' Sucka" is the cut that turned me on to him.