Slim's Y-Ki-Ki: Zydeco's Highs and Lows in Opelousas

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In 2016, after an alleged 69 years of business, a dancehall once deemed the zydeco hotspot of the world, closed. Following a change in patrons’ behavior and attendance, St. Landry Parish’s weakening grasp on zydeco, and sharp increases in band prices, Anthony “Tony” Gradney, owner of Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, made the hard decision to close doors permanently. The bar was originally owned and operated by Tony Gradney’s parents, Arnold “Slim” Gradney and Irene Pratt Gradney, who were both persons of color. In a 2004 newspaper piece written by Stephanie Kirk, Kirk notes the origin of the name “Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki” writing, “Slims took on the elder Gradney’s (Arnold “Slim” Gradney) name and interest. The second half of the club’s name ‘Y-Ki-Ki,’ came from Slim’s interest in Hawaii.” On October 16th, 1940, Arnold was drafted into the military. It is possible, though unverified, that his military experience took him to Hawaii where he gained the interest that led to his Club’s name.

In works by Herman Fuselier and journalist Stephanie Kirk, Slim’s allegedly started either in 1947 or 1949, though other evidence seems to counter those dates. In 1957, ten years after Slim’s earliest alleged start date, Arnold “Slim” Gradney, the original owner and founder of Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, applied for a license to sell beer at the Murray Hill Club located in the same location as Slim’s. It is not until three years later, in 1960, that Arnold is witnessed applying for a license under the business Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki. The story gets even more interesting decades later, following an anniversary party and a statement from the owner. In the early spring of 1999, Slim's Y-Ki-Ki held a celebration for its 40th Year Anniversary. If that anniversary is accurate, that would put the start of Slim's Y-Ki-Ki in 1959, not ‘47 or ‘49. Five years later, in December of 2004, Anthony told reporters, "My daddy said Clifton Chenier was the first artist to perform at Slim's, in the early 1960s," and in the same newspaper column, Stephanie Kirk writes, "Slims was a rock 'n' roll club that began catering to zydeco lovers in the 1960s, just as the music genre began to thrive in St. Landry Parish." It would seem that Arnold Gradney originally opened the Murray Hill Club, a rock 'n' roll club, and turned that club into the legendary zydeco dancehall following local music trends. Though there still exists reasonable doubt, there were clearly some details about Slim's Y-Ki-Ki's origin that were yet to be fully explored.

Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki was not only a worldwide beacon of zydeco, it, and its owner Arnold, were a pillar of the community. Unlike many dancehalls between the 1940's and 1990's, Slim's Y-Ki-Ki welcomed patrons of all races and had both Black and white guests grooving to the music together. The dancehall hosted public events, fundraisers, union rallies, holiday celebrations, marriage receptions, festival kickoffs, and even family reunions. These events ranged from a policemen's ball for the Colored Police Athletic Association to a Fontenot family reunion, and even included a city meeting protesting an Opelousas annexation ordinance. One consistent detail in all of these events, however, was music. Slim's Y-Ki-Ki boasted an impressive list of performers, many of which started their careers there. The sounds of Clifton Chenier, Beau Jocques, John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys, Rockin' Sidney, and so many more rocked the walls and shook the roof of Slim's. The famous dancehall even hosted multiple documentary films, including an HBO documentary titled "Finding the Grove" that featured 7-year-old Guyland Ledet playing the accordion and captivating the audience with such awe, there was a brief moment where people stopped dancing. 

Eventually, Slim's Y-Ki-Ki was laid to rest. Pressure from Lafayette and New Orleans began siphoning both zydeco players and enjoyers, and the new sound that began to fill the dancehall's wooden floors and open walls was silence. Slim's, which for decades hosted a packed house three to four nights a week, was lucky to have a large crowd even one night. Yet absence and losing business was not the only nail in the coffin. Anthony, when questioned on his decision to close the hall, noted increased band rates (often around $3500 or more) and unruly crowds helped affirm his choices in shutting down. Anthony is quoted saying, "It's a younger crowd and a lot of disrespect. They'll take off their shirt and want to dance with no shirt. It's not like it used to be with the older people....You're under four hours of nothing but stress now." Rather than try to keep it running until there's nothing left in the business or him, Anthony preferred to close it sooner and let the good memories sit forefront in peoples' minds.

The story of Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki is not shiny or explosive. It is not a story of particular grandeur that sets it apart from the rest of the world. Instead, Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki and its history is one of humility and community. Countless musicians, ranging from part-time players who no one knows to multiple grammy award winners to documentary subjects, played this dancehall. With every musician, Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki gained another story and gained more renown as newspapers referencing the dancehall’s legendary status. Festival kickoffs, holiday parties, wedding receptions, community fundraisers, political rallies, family reunions, all held within the walls of this historic business that now exists only in memory. To this day, people from all over Acadiana still reminisce on their personal stories related to the club, thinking back to the fun, dancing, and music that filled the air and lifted spirits.