Maximum Rhythm and Blues

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Professor Longhair - New Orleans Piano (1973)



The great Roy "Bald Head" Byrd, also known as Fess.  This New Orleans street hustler developed an interesting style learning to play piano on a piano found in the trash with missing keys.  Sometimes called the "Bach of Rock and Roll", this guy never made it big until the very end of his life.  From his first band the Shuffling Hungarians, to his later work, Fess had to work as a janitor on the side just to pay his bills.  His legendary playing has at last been widely recognized though, and his music is still played all over the streets of New Orleans.


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