{{short description|American singer (born 1981)}} {{BLP sources|date=February 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Chris Ardoin | image = ChrisArdoin.jpg | caption = Ardoin performing in June 2005 | image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels. Set the value as a number without "px". --> | birth_name = Christopher Ardoin | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|4|7|mf=y}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} | birth_place = Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. | instrument = Accordion, vocals | genre = Zydeco | occupation = Singer, musician | years_active = | label = Maison de Soul, Rounder, J&S, NuStep4Lyfe, Soul Rehab | website = https://chrisardoinmusic.com/ }} '''Chris Ardoin''' (born April 7, 1981) is a zydeco accordionist and singer. He is one of the young artists that helped form nouveau zydeco, a new style of music that fused traditional zydeco with various styles including hip-hop, reggae and R&B.
== Biography == Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana,<ref name="ReferenceA">Chris and Sean Ardoin Interview, Blues & Soul Records Magazine No. 53, 2003</ref> Ardoin was a child prodigy belonging to a musical dynasty (his father was Lawrence Ardoin and his grandfather was Bois Sec Ardoin).<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bessman |first=Jim |date=Mar 16, 2002 |title=Capturing the sound of young Cajun America |magazine=Billboard |volume=114 |issue=11 |pages=115 |id={{ProQuest| }} }}</ref> His older brother is Gospel zydeco artist Sean Ardoin. He started with the accordion at the age of two and grew up listening to zydeco only for the most part until he was in his teens.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> When he was just ten, with help from his father Lawrence, he formed the Double Clutchin' zydeco band with his elder brother Sean Ardoin on drums.
In 1994, the band released their debut album ''That's Da Lick'' on the Maison de Soul label. Though it was Sean who handled all the vocals and songwriting, the album was credited to Chris as they considered putting younger Chris in front would draw more attention to the band.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Chris came more into the center of the spotlight in the follow-up effort ''Lick It Up!'' released a year later, sharing vocals and songwriting duties with Sean. Sean left the band after releasing the album ''Turn the Page'' in 1998 to concentrate on his solo career.
In 2005, Ardoin changed the band name from Double Clutchin' to NuStep, and released ''Sweat'', the first album under the new name. ''M.V.P.'' followed in 2006, ''V.I.P'' in 2008, ''Alter Ego'' in 2009, and ''Headliner'' in 2010.
On July 30, 2021, Ardoin was hit by gunfire in a seemingly-random shooting following a performance at the Zydeco Bike Fest in Colfax, Louisiana.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/grant-parish-sheriff-ask-for-help-locating-suspects-who-shot-zydeco-legend-chris-ardoin-and-14-year-old-then-fled-scene|access-date=May 28, 2022|title=Grant Parish Sheriff asks for help locating suspect(s) who shot Zydeco legend Chris Ardoin, and 14-year-old then fled scene |last=Allen |first=Renee |date=August 3, 2021 |work=KLFY}}</ref><ref name="Cuadra">{{cite news |last=Cuadra |first=Marcello |date=August 3, 2021 |title=Chris Ardoin recovering following Friday night shooting |url=https://www.kplctv.com/2021/08/03/chris-ardoin-recovering-following-friday-night-shooting/ |work=KLPC-TV |location=Lake Charles, Louisiana |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Johnson">{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Dionne |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Bullet still lodged inside Chris Ardoin's back but Zydeco legend says he's 'bouncing back' |url=https://www.klfy.com/local/bullet-still-lodged-inside-chris-ardoins-back-but-zydeco-legend-says-hes-bouncing-back/ |work=KLFY |location=Lafayette, Louisiana |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> As of February 2022, no charges have been filed in the case.<ref name="WWL">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=February 12, 2022 |title=Zydeco musician Ardoin recovering creativity after shooting |url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/orleans/zydeco-musician-recovering-creativity-after-shooting/289-68ea82e2-b8bf-42f9-b838-216edbad7e58 |work=WWL-TV |location=New Orleans, Louisiana |agency=Associated Press |access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref>
On March 4, 2025, as Ardoin performed on stage during Mardi Gras festivities in Mamou, Louisiana at least one person opened fire, killing two and injuring twelve others. Ardoin, his 13-year-old son who was on stage, and his band members were uninjured. Ardoin said that when the shooting began, a band member jumped onto his son to shield him before he also jumped onto him before the entire band was shielded by law enforcement. After the attack, Ardoin said that he would no longer perform outdoors and that he would only perform at indoor venues that he felt were safe enough.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Claire |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Zydeco musician on stage during Mamou Mardi Gras shooting 'won't perform outside anymore' |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/crime_police/la-zydeco-musician-chris-ardoin-escapes-mardi-gras-shooting/article_44e2811c-f9cd-11ef-bba6-ef684623ab9d.html |access-date=March 6, 2025 |work=The Advocate}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hammond |first=Juan |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Two killed, at least 12 injured in Mamou shooting; one person of interest in custody |url=https://wgno.com/news/louisiana/update-on-fatal-shooting-in-mamou-multiple-victims-injured-suspects-questioned/ |access-date=March 6, 2025 |work=WGNO}}</ref>
== Awards and honors ==
=== ''OffBeat'''s Best of The Beat Awards === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Category !Work nominated !Result !Ref. |- |1997 |Best Emerging Zydeco Band or Performer (with Double Clutchin') | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-08 |title=Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List |url=https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/,%20https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=OffBeat Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814182218/https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |1998 |Best Zydeco Album |''Turn the Page'' (with Double Clutchin') |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2007 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer (with NuStep) | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |}
==Discography== * 1994 ''That's Da Lick'' (Maison de Soul) * 1995 ''Lick It Up!'' (Maison de Soul) * 1997 ''Gon' Be Jus' Fine'' (Rounder) * 1998 ''Turn the Page'' (Rounder) * 2000 ''Best Kept Secret'' (Rounder) * 2003 ''Life'' (J&S) * 2004 ''Save the Last Dance'' (J&S) * 2005 ''Sweat'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2006 ''M.V.P.'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2008 ''Candyman's V.I.P.'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2009 ''Alter Ego'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2010 ''Headliner'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2012 ''Unleashed'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2014 ''Back Home'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2015 ''Zydeko Fever'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2016 ''Requested Live'' (NuStep4Lyfe Entertainment) * 2017 ''Legend'' (Soul Rehab Music Group) * 2018 ''Evolution'' (Soul Rehab Music Group) * 2020 ''Press Play: Live'' (Soul Rehab Music Group)
==References== <references />
==External links== * {{AllMusic |id=mn0000105605 |title=Chris Ardoin}} * {{Discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ardoin, Chris}} Category:Zydeco musicians Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Louisiana Creole people Category:Singers from Louisiana Category:21st-century American accordionists Category:21st-century American male singers Category:21st-century American singers Category:Maison de Soul Records artists Category:Rounder Records artists