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Clifton Chenier (June 25, 1925 – December 12, 1987), was an American musician known as a pioneer of zydeco, a style of music that arose from Creole music, with R&B, blues, and Cajun influences. He sang and played the accordion. Chenier won a Grammy Award in 1983.

Chenier was known as the King of Zydeco, and also billed as the King of the South.

Chenier suffered from diabetes, which eventually forced him to have a foot amputated and required dialysis because of associated kidney problems.

He died of diabetes-related kidney disease in December 1987 in Lafayette, Louisiana. His funeral took place at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lafayette.