Sidney Simien (April 9, 1938 – February 25, 1998), known professionally as Rockin' Sidney, was an American R&B, zydeco, and soul musician who began recording in the late 1950s and continued performing until his death. He is best known for his 1985 single "My Toot-Toot", which reached top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and earned him a Grammy Award.
Biography
Sidney Simien was born on April 9, 1938, in Lebeau, Louisiana. He was born into a Creole French-speaking family and was a descendant of Antoine—of Marseille, France—and Marie Simien (who was a free woman of color and a plantation owner). Sidney himself was born in the tiny farming community of Lebeau, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. A German beer company licensed it to use in their radio and television commercials. The German cover version Mein Tuut Tuut by Leinemann reached no. 15 on the German charts in 1985. Over 20 years after "My Toot Toot" debuted, it continued to draw royalties from commercial use in Europe, and cover versions in several languages by dozens of musicians.
Later years
Sidney used royalties from "My Toot Toot" to purchase radio station KAOK in Lake Charles. He also bought Festival City, a entertainment complex in Lake Charles, and started a record label, ZBC (Zydeco, Blues, Country) Records. After the success of "My Toot Toot," Sidney toured the United States and Europe and continued to record, characteristically playing all parts. Although nothing before or after ever matched the career-defining success of "My Toot Toot," several of his songs such as "If It's Good for the Gander," "My Zydeco Shoes," "Jalapeño Lena", and "Ann Cayenne" have become zydeco staples and are played regularly by other bands.
After a long bout with throat cancer, Rockin' Sidney Simien succumbed to the disease in 1998, leaving his legacy to his wife, three sons, and four grandchildren. He was funeralized at his hometown church, Immaculate Conception in Lebeau, and buried in the church cemetery.
Discography
Albums
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album
! colspan="2"| Chart Positions
|-
! width="50"| <small>US Country</small>
! width="50"| <small>US</small>
|-
| 1982
| Give Me a Good Time Woman
| align="center"|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1983
| Boogie, Blues 'N' Zydeco
| align="center"|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1984
| My Zydeco Shoes Got the Zydeco Blues
| align="center"|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1985
| My Toot-Toot
| align="center"| 13
| align="center"| 166
|-
| 1986
| Hot Steppin'
| align="center"|
| align="center"|
|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Single
! <small>US Country</small>
! Album
|-
| 1985
| "My Toot-Toot"
| align="center"| 19
| My Toot Toot
|}