Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

Grammy nominated and heading to the other L.A.

by Dominick Cross

LAFAYETTE, LA. — It was early Monday evening and Nathan Williams was a little depleted.

“Just got back from a trip,” Williams said. “Tired.”

Williams had just returned from a gig at the annual Washington Mardi Gras, a weeklong celebration of parties, schmoozing and fundraising — with a political bent — that happens in the nation’s capitol come carnival time.

Who wouldn’t be tired?

Williams, of Lafayette, was there with his band, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas. One can only hope the band gets some needed rest because this coming weekend the 65th Grammy Awards takes place in Los Angeles, Sunday February 5.

And if you haven’t heard, the band’s “Lucky Man” release is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. In addition, the Cha Chas have a gig Saturday at a Grammy party.

Williams and company are joined in the Roots category by another Louisianian, Lake Charles’ Sean Ardoin, whose record, “Full Circle” by Sean Adroin and Kreole Rock and Soul featuring LSU Golden Band from Tigerland, is also nominated in the same category for the fourth time.

“I feel all right, thank God, just to be acknowledged,” said Williams. “That’s how I feel about it — just to be acknowledged — and, thank God, that’s all you can do and see what’s going to happen.”

The band’s 14th album was recorded at Williams’ homegrown Cha Chas Studio with sons/musicians, Nathan Jr. and Naylan, on the boards and Williams calling the shots.

“Yeah, that’s sweet,” Williams said. “All that’s sweet, man.”

The band has been touring for nearly 40 years (“Thirty-seven, to be exact,” said Williams).

“I’ve been out there a long time,” Williams said. “It is what is. Thank God.”

In that time, other honors have been bestowed on the Cha Chas. They’ve been inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and was with the Zydeco Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. They’ve been voted the top festival band in the country and have won the Big Easy Award for Best Zydeco Band several times.

But the Grammy nomination is a first for the band.

“To be honest with you, I always had the feeling that one day something like that was going to come because hard work pays off. Without faith and hard work, you ain’t got nothing.

“The main thing I do in my life is put God first and just keep moving on and keep the faith,” he said. “Keep pushing, keep my eyes on the prize.

“It’s just an honor to experience that, to go bring my family over there and just experience it.”

On a bitter-sweet note, Wiliiams’ mother died around Thanksgiving. She would’ve been 89 years old on Christmas Eve. But she did get to learn of her son’s Grammy nomination.

“I said, ‘Mom. What do you think about me being nominated for the Grammy,’” said Williams. “She said, ‘(You’re) the perfect person, the right person. You love God and I love God. My family loves God.’

“That was powerful,” he said.

“I made a song about her, too, ‘Mama’s Love,’ on that album,” Williams added. “Ain’t no love like a mama’s love. Lord have mercy.”

The Regional Roots category includes another band with a Louisiana connection, South Carolina’s Ranky Tanks, whose album was recorded at the New Orleans Jazz Fest aptly titled, “Live At The 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.”

Other nominees are Natalie Noelani/“Natalie Ai Kamauu” and Halau Hula Keali’i O Nalani/“Halau Hula Keali’i O Nalani – Live At The Getty Center.”

The Grammys are set for Sunday, February 5.

Streaming live begins at 2:30 p.m. CT on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel, the 2023 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony is where the majority of this year’s 91 GRAMMY Awards categories will be awarded.

The Grammys air live, 7 p.m., on the CBS Television Network.