Blues Piano Day 5 - Professor Longhair

Professor Longhair is another Louisiana raised blues piano man. They called him the professor because he was not only a wizard of the keyboard but influenced many of those who have come after him.

The Rock and Roll Hall of fame says;

Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd - better known to the world as Professor Longhair or “Fess,” for short - stands as the foremost exponent of New Orleans piano style. Byrd’s idiosyncratic style is a rhythmic jambalaya reflecting the freewheeling, good-time spirit of the Crescent City. Professor Longhair soaked up influences from close-at-hand sources - barrelhouse boogie-woogie, Caribbean rhythms like the rumba (many of his relatives were West Indian), and the Crescent City’s “second line” parade rhythms - but the way he pieced these elements together is what made his style such a marvel of fluidity and drive.

Professor Longhair's Tipitina



Professor Longhair - Documentary(Japanese language)



In the word of others;

• "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

Links to blogs hosting Professor Longhair mp3s;

Big Chief mp3 @ Sous les paves, la plage...

Tipitina mp3 @ Visions and Revisions Blog

References;

Professor Longhair.com

Professor Longhair @ Wikipedia

Professor Longhair @ Myspace