Bay Shore, NY - June 27, 2014 - Get ready for Zydeco music on the Great South Bay as Long Island Cares, Inc. presents "The Zydeco Riverboat Cruise" featuring C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. This first-of-a-kind event will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 aboard the Lauren Kristy paddlewheel boat, leaving from the Bay Shore Marina at 6:00 PM and returning at 9:00 PM. The cruise will feature a buffet dinner, wine, beer and soft drinks, Mardi Gras beads and live music from "The Price of Zydeco" from Port Arthur, Texas. All tickets are $50.00 per person and all proceeds support the Long Island Cares, Inc. Endowment Fund.
The son of the late Clifton Chenier, who is considered by many to be the undisputed "King of Zydeco," C.J. Chenier has risen through the ranks of Louisiana Zydeco music to earn the title, "The Prince of Zydeco." Whether he's performing live with his Red Hot Louisiana Band or recording a new album in the studio, C.J. Chenier takes the hard-driving music to new heights with his powerful voice and command of the accordion. He has expanded his popularity along the Texas-Louisiana crawfish circuit to become one of the premier Zydeco touring acts both in North America and abroad. C.J. has appeared as a guest artist on numerous albums including Paul Simon's "Rhythm of the Saints," and the Gin Blossom's "New Miserable Experience" album. C.J.'s 1995 appearances on the Jon Stewart Show and CNN brought his music to his widest audiences yet. His philosophy toward his music: "You play zydeco and you see shoes flying off. You can't come to my show and stay unhappy all night long. You're going to break a smile and stomp your foot before too long. This is happy music, and it makes you dance."
C.J. Chenier has headlined many legendary venues in Louisiana and Texas, as well as numerous concert and dance halls throughout the country. Although he has performed on Long Island in the past, this is the first time that he's bringing his band to Long Island to perform about a paddleboat which is often very common along the Mississippi River in Louisiana. Now, in a special benefit performance for Long Island Cares, Inc. C.J. Chenier will bring his powerful blend of zydeco music to the Great South Bay.
About Long Island Cares, Inc.
Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank is Long Island's first food bank: serving the hungry on Long Island since, 1980. Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry on Long Island and provides emergency food where and when it is needed, and sponsors a wide variety of innovate direct service programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency. The organization was founded by the late singer, Grammy Award winning songwriter and social activist Harry Chapin in response to the growing issue of hunger on Long Island. It is continued today by his wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated Board of Directors and talented staff working out of their 35,000 square foot facility in Hauppauge and their storefront hunger assistance centers in Freeport and Lindenhurst. Long Island Cares is a member agency of the Food Bank Association of New York State and Feeding America. Long Island Cares, Inc. is recognized by the NYS Department of Health and the USDA as the regional food bank for Long Island.