Biography

Nathan Williams is the leader of the Zydeco Cha Chas. His stylings on the piano accordion have made him one of the most-admired players in the zydeco scene, following in Clifton Chenier's and Buckwheat Zydeco's huge footsteps. Nathan Williams was the youngest of seven children and grew up in St. Martinville, LA. Times were hard for the Williams family and Nathan Williams lost his father when he was only seven years old. Williams grew up admiring his uncle, Harry Hypolite, who is best-known for his guitar work with Clifton Chenier. Later in life, Williams moved to Lafayette to live with his older brother, Sid Williams, and his wife. He worked in Sid's grocery store and began practicing on the accordion and practiced in the bathroom because he didn't want anyone to hear him play. With the aid of one of his friends, Buckwheat Zydeco, and steady hard work, it was not long before he was playing for people. Just five years after graduating from high school, he was recording 45s on his brother's El Sid indie record label. He got his lucky break when Buckwheat Zydeco left Rounder Records for Island Records, leaving Rounder in need of an accordion player to fill a slot on a project they had lined up. Buckwheat Zydeco suggested Nathan Williams for the spot and he auditioned and got the job. In the year 2000, Williams released his seventh album for Rounder Records, Let's Go! The Zydeco Cha Chas members include Dennis Paul Williams as guitarist, Allen "Cat Roy" Broussard on alto and tenor saxophones, Wayne Burns on bass, Mark Anthony Williams on rubboard, and Gerard St. Julien, Jr. on drums. Special guest artist on the 2000 release was tenor saxophonist Derek Huston and Scott Billington played harmonica and produced the album. With Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, fame and fortune take a back seat to the music they play. They want to bring zydeco and traditional Louisiana Cajun music to the attention of mainstream music listeners. They believe that the energy and up-tempo Louisiana music has been regionalized for far too long and is due for international and worldwide acclaim. As one listens to their music, it is easy to agree that the time has come for the world to be introduced to the best-kept secret in the music world. ~ Larry Belanger, Rovi