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Professor Longhair

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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. 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.

Musical Career

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

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
  • "The Picasso of keyboard funk." Said by a New Orleans musician in an article during the 1990's, perhaps Dr. John or Art Neville.
  • "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

External links

References



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Last updated on Thursday February 07, 2008 at 13:40:56 PST (GMT -0800)
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