Professor Longhair
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| Professor Longhair | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Henry Roeland Byrd |
| Also known as | Fess |
| Born | December 19, 1918 |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Died | January 30, 1980 (aged 61) |
| Genre(s) | Blues, New Orleans |
| Occupation(s) | musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1930s-1980 |
| Website | professorlonghair.com |
Professor Longhair (born Henry Roeland Byrd, also known as Roy "Bald Head" Byrd and as Fess) (December 19, 1918 - January 30, 1980) was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist. He was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He was noted for his unique piano style, which he described as "a combination of rumba, mambo, and Calypso", and his unusual, expressive voice, described once as "freak unique". He was called the Bach of Rock and Roll for the clarity, varied and extremely accurate and "funky" syncopation, and the beautiful tone of his piano playing.[citation needed] Byrd is noteworthy for having been active in two distinct periods, both in the heyday of early rhythm and blues, and in the resurgence of interest in various forms of traditional jazz after the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was created. At that time Byrd became a New Orleans icon.
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[edit] Musical Career
Professor Longhair began his career in New Orleans near the end of the 1940s but was not well known outside of the city at that time. Throughout the 1950s he recorded for Atlantic Records, Federal Records and other, local labels. In the 1960s his career faltered and he became a janitor and gambled. But he was rediscovered in 1969 as the large white blues audience began to appreciate him and he was referred to as the "Father of New Orleans R&B". During this period his albums, such as Crawfish Fiesta on Alligator Records and New Orleans Piano for Atlantic became readily available. In 1980, Professor Longhair died.[1]
[edit] Discography
- New Orleans Piano (1953)
- House Party New Orleans Style
- Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo (1974)
- Crawfish Fiesta (1980)
- Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology
- Fess' Gumbo
- The Last Mardi Gras
- Ball the Wall, a live album of solo piano
- London Concert, a live album with conga player Alfred "Uganda" Roberts
- Collector's Choice, a greatest hits album
[edit] Quotations
- "The best thing that ever happened to the piano in New Orleans." James Booker
- "Professor Longhair put 'funk' into music; he's the father of the stuff." Dr. John
- "He's the Satchel Paige of the piano." Albert Goldman
- "He's the Bach of rock." Allen Toussaint
- "He's a seminal force, a guru, an original creator of the New Orleans piano style ... the teacher of great players like Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Mac Rebbenack, James Booker, and Huey Smith. All acknowledge him as The Great Master." Jerry Wexler
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Oliver (ed.), Paul (1989). The Blackwell Guide to Recorded Blues. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publisher, pp. 280-281. ISBN 0-631-18301-9.
[edit] External links
- http://www.professorlonghair.com
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- All Music Guide
- Professor Longhair At Myspace
- Henry Roeland Byrd at Find-A-Grave
