Henry Roeland Byrd known as Professor Longhair (Bogalusa (Louisiana) December 19th 1918 - January 30th 1980) is a legendary musician of Blues of the New-Orleans. It has a single style of piano, which one describes like a combination of Rumba, Mambo and Calypso as well as a voice of in addition to-falls.

It begins its career in the Années 1930 as dancer. " The first instrument with which I played was the sole of my shoes, marking the rate/rhythm and playing of the clappers. Was used it to dance throughout Bourbon Street."

He learns the Guitare and the Piano and starts to put himself seriously at the music when he realizes that he can play for his comrades of the Civilian Conservation Body rather than to work. (the CCC were a service of public works employing the unemployed created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932). It was also Boxe ur, cook and professional card player.

At the end of the Years 1940 it assoit with the piano of Caldonia Club during a pause of group Dave Bartholomew. It is immediately a success and Batholomew (which was later and collaborator leader of Fats Domino) is transfered. All the members of the group had long hair and the group was baptized Professor Longhair and the Furnace Hairs (professor long hair and its four hairy).

It starts to record the following year. Its piece emblematic " Fatty Tuesday in New Orleans" in 1949 under the name of Professor Longhair and the Shuffling Hungarians is recorded. " There was a Hindu in the group, but not of hongrois" , he explained later.

Its only great success of Rhythm and Blues was 'Bald Head" in 1950. At the beginning of the Years 1950, it obtains some small successes with amongst other things " Tipitina" and " Ball the Wall". He plays under several names like Roy Byrd and his Blues Jumpers , Roy " Bald Head" Byrd , Roland Byrd , Professor Longhair and his Blues Scholars , and Professor Longhair and the Clippers . These multiple identities are due to problems of contracts with different recording companies.

Its career slows down in the Années 1960, its larger success is " Big Chief". It goes back to the charts, and makes even the gatekeeper in a record dealer. It is redécouvert and records again for Rounder Records . It makes a return in 1971 to the Jazz & Heritage Festival and starts to record some albums accommodated well by criticisms in the Years 1970. Dr. John (Mac Rebbenack) helped it much. It appears in documentary film] Piano Players Rarely, Yew Ever, Play Together with Allen All Saints' day and Tuts Washington, three generations of pianists Orleans News.

It is the high-speed motorboat of the jazz festival of Montreux in 1973 and 1975. Paul McCartney invited it to play at a sitting deprived on the Queen Mary.

He dies of a Myocardial infarction in 1980. The nightclub Tipitina' S at the Orleans News one of its successes was baptized. Its last enregistement, one of rare in public, was made by Albert Goldman in Tipitana' S in 1978.

External bonds

• Official site