PROFESSOR LONGHAIR ( II )

 En el año 2009 colgábamos nuestro primer post referente a este artista que se dió ha conocer con diferentes nombres :  ROY " BALDHEAD"· BYRD, ROY BIRD & His Blues Jumpers, como fuere que nos han descolgado el video que ilustraba la información acerca de este personaje excepcional, volvemos a la carga . ( nunca entenderemos lo de la privacidad ..en la red) , si se cuelga en la red es para su difusión, creemos.... pero en fin ..... ellos se lo pierden . Como decíamos Henry Roeland adoptó diferentes nombres artísticos, era un innovador nato y mantuvo una evolución constante en su forma de tocar , distinta a los pianistas de New Orleans,

nol se conformaba con tocar de forma ortodoxa y su idea fué la evolución constante , unos ejemplos para que comprobéis cuanto os decimos. 

                             

                                   

                             

                           

Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd (December 19, 1918 – January 30, 1980), better known as Professor Longhair, was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist. Professor Longhair 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 traditional jazz after the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

The music journalist Tony Russell, in his book The Blues – From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, stated "The vivacious rhumba-rhythmed piano blues and choked singing typical of Fess were too weird to sell millions of records; he had to be content with siring musical offspring who were simple enough to manage that, like Fats Domino or Huey "Piano" Smith. But he is also acknowledged as a father figure by subtler players like Allen Toussaint and Dr. John."

Professor Longhair's House 2010

Professor Longhair was born on December 19, 1918 in Bogalusa, Louisiana. His distinctive style was the result of learning to play piano on an instrument that was missing some keys.

He began his career in New Orleans in 1948. Mike Tessitore, owner of the Caldonia Club, gave Longhair his stage name Longhair first recorded in a band called the Shuffling Hungarians in 1949, creating four songs (including the first version of his signature song, "Mardi Gras in New Orleans") for the Star Talent record label. Union problems curtailed their release, but Longhair's next effort for Mercury Records the same year was a winner.[3] Throughout the 1950s, he recorded for Atlantic Records, Federal Records and other, local, labels. Professor Longhair had only one national commercial hit, "Bald Head" in 1950, under the name Roy Byrd and His Blues Jumpers. He also recorded his favorites, "Tipitina" and "Go to the Mardi Gras". However, he lacked crossover appeal for white audiences.

After suffering a stroke, Professor Longhair recorded "No Buts - No Maybes" in 1957. He re-recorded "Go to the Mardi Gras" in 1959.

He first recorded "Big Chief" with its composer Earl King in 1964. In the 1960s, Professor Longhair's career faltered. He became a janitor to support himself, and fell into a gambling habit.

He appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1971 and at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973.His album The London Concert showcases work he did on a visit to the United Kingdom.

By the 1980s his albums, such as Crawfish Fiesta on Alligator and New Orleans Piano for Atlantic, had become readily available across America. He appeared on the PBS series Soundstage (with Dr. John, Earl King, and The Meters) and co-starred in the film documentary Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together. Longhair died of a heart attack while filming was underway. Footage from his funeral was included.

In 1981, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. He was awarded a posthumous Grammy for his early recordings released as House Party New Orleans Style, and in 1992 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The B side of the 1985 Paul McCartney single 'Spies Like Us', entitled 'My Carnival', credited to Paul McCartney and Wings, was recorded in New Orleans and dedicated to Professor Longhair.

Fess's song "Tipitina" was covered by Hugh Laurie on the 2011 CD album "Let Them Talk". Laurie is a long-time fan, having used Fess's "Go to the Mardi Gras" as the theme for the pilot episode of A Bit of Fry & Laurie.

In the 1940s, Professor Longhair was playing with Caribbean musicians, listening a lot to Perez Prado's mambo records, and absorbing and experimenting with it all.He was especially enamored with Cuban music. Longhair's style was known locally as rumba-boogie .Alexander Stewart states that Longhair was a key figure bridging the worlds of boogie-woogie and the new style of rhythm and blues." In his composition "Misery," Professor Longhair plays a habanera-like figure in his left hand. The deft use of triplets in the right hand is a characteristic of Longhair's style.

                                            La casa donde vivió tal como estaba en 2010