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Professor Longhair
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Professor Longhair (nee Henry Roeland Byrd and aka Fess) (December 19, 1918 - January 30, 1980) was a legendary New Orleans blues musician. 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.
His career in music began in the 1930s, dancing for tips. “The very first instrument I played was the bottom of my feet, working out rhythms, tap dancing. We used to dance all up and down Bourbon Street.”
He learned guitar and piano and began to take music seriously when he found he could get out of work by playing piano for his fellow members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He also worked as a boxer, cook, and professional card player.
In the late 1940s, he sat in on piano at the Caledonia Club while Dave Bartholomew’s band was taking a break. He was an immediate hit and Bartholomew, later famous as Fats Domino’s bandleader and collaborator, was fired. The band all had long hair and were dubbed Professor Longhair and the Four Hairs.
He began recording the following year. His signature song, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” (still the theme song of New Orleans Mardi Gras) was recorded in 1949 under the name Professor Longhair and the Shuffling Hungarians. “I had one Hindu in the band, but there weren’t no Hungarians,” he explained.
His career in music began in the 1930s, dancing for tips. “The very first instrument I played was the bottom of my feet, working out rhythms, tap dancing. We used to dance all up and down Bourbon Street.”
He learned guitar and piano and began to take music seriously when he found he could get out of work by playing piano for his fellow members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He also worked as a boxer, cook, and professional card player.
In the late 1940s, he sat in on piano at the Caledonia Club while Dave Bartholomew’s band was taking a break. He was an immediate hit and Bartholomew, later famous as Fats Domino’s bandleader and collaborator, was fired. The band all had long hair and were dubbed Professor Longhair and the Four Hairs.
He began recording the following year. His signature song, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” (still the theme song of New Orleans Mardi Gras) was recorded in 1949 under the name Professor Longhair and the Shuffling Hungarians. “I had one Hindu in the band, but there weren’t no Hungarians,” he explained.
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New Orleans Piano
Professor Longhair
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House Party New Orleans Style
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Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo
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Crawfish Fiesta
Professor Longhair Buy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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secretpassage wrote:
yes
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sweetdy wrote:
professor longhair IS new orleans.
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Saaaandy wrote:
<3
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cyrone wrote:
I Like.
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vince1973 wrote:
Hey, Lily Allen... Big Chief ?
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MERLE211 wrote:
Amazing!
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LondonLouis wrote:
One of the absolute greats.
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ionola wrote:
MAESTRO !!!!!
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gabrielsantoro2 wrote:
o maluco é foda
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uh_oh_jlm wrote:
"look at that bald head she ain't got no hair..." hahahaha I've loved that song every since I was like 3 months old!
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Ton87 wrote:
great pianist
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PThomasAnderson wrote:
Cherry pie es capaz de derretir un "tormo" de hielo "hamijos"
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larrybob wrote:
Please check out the group New Orleans Piano
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bougre wrote:
he kicked mines ones and then came back for some more!
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sonidoRancho wrote:
It kicked my ass for sure.
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jamie-o wrote:
Don't be sorry...it does!
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m6arate wrote:
im sorry but professor longhair kicks ASS!!!!
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Boudleaux, karenmariama and Jiggs54 added Professor Longhair to their libraries. 16 hours ago
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