Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas

Nathan Williams began his professional musical journey at age twenty-one, merely five years after graduating high school, by recording singles for his brothers El Sid label. Sid also opened a venue in Lafayette called El-Sid-Os, where Nathan became a regular performer on Friday nights. Williams' major opportunity arrived when Buckwheat Zydeco suggested him to Rounder Records, which was seeking an accordion player after Buckwheat departed for Island Records. Nathan auditioned, obtained a recording contract, and in 1985 founded Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, inspired by a Chenier instrumental. The group debuted at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1988. In November 1992, the Cha Chas performed at the New Orleans Rock n Bowl for the first time, establishing regular zydeco nights there beginning spring 1993. Nathans 1997 live album, Im a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock N Bowl, New Orleans, captured the energy of these performances. They also celebrated the venues thirtieth anniversary in 2018. The New York Times once observed that Williams, at twenty-five, was positioned to become significant in revitalizing zydeco. His music blends zydeco, jazz, blues, and R's original songs penned by Williams. For over three decades, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas have toured extensively, performing from local Louisiana venues to international stages in countries including Austria, Spain, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, and even Poland, a first for a zydeco band. The group has always been a family affair, featuring Nathan on accordion and vocals, his brother Dennis Paul on guitar, cousin Mark Anthony Chukka Williams on rubboard, and Sid as manager. Other family members involved include his son Nathan Jr., cousin Allen, and nephew Djuan, alongside non-family members such as bassists Paul Newman and Wayne Burns, and saxophonist Allen Cat Roy Broussard. In his 1995 album Creole Crossroads, Williams collaborated with Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet from BeauSoleil, highlighting a rare fusion of zydeco and Cajun styles with his brother Sid and Sids wife, working in their grocery store. During a period of illness recovery, Williams chose to devote himself to mastering the accordion, practicing secretly in the bathroom. He looked up to Buckwheat Zydeco, who was a key mentor, but it was Chenier who left a lasting impact on his music. Sid eventually purchased Nathan's first accordion from Buckwheat Zydeco.