Henry Roeland Byrd had many pseudonyms during his musical career, but New Orleanians knew him best as Professor Longhair or just “Fess.”
Longhair’s piano play was like no other.
“Longhair had a unique style that incorporated the Afro-Caribbean influences that Jelly Roll Morton described as ‘the Spanish tinge,’” 64 Parishes states. “In addition, Longhair played in an idiosyncratic manner that differed from conventional structure, dropping or adding beats at will …. known as ‘jumping time.’”
Born Dec. 19, 1918 in Bogalusa, Longhair was 2 when he moved to New Orleans with his mother. He tap danced for tips on Bourbon Street, played drums and guitar before choosing piano. His career started in 1948 at the Caledonia Club.
“Longhair recorded a great body of classic songs, including ‘Mardi Gras in New Orleans,’ ‘Big Chief,’ ‘Tipitina,’ ‘Bald Head,’ ‘In the Night,’ and ‘Ball the Wall,’” 64 Parishes states. “These recordings greatly influenced the next generation of New Orleans R&B pianists, such as Allen Toussaint,” who called Longhair the “Bach of Rock.”
In 1979, Longhair recorded his first album with the Chicago-based Alligator Records. He had a fatal heart attack on Jan. 30, 1980. “Crawfish Fiesta” was released the next day.
“His wake and funeral drew friends and celebrity admirers from far and wide,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame states. “The second line of mourners that followed his hearse to the cemetery stretched 10 city blocks.”
Longhair received a Grammy in 1987 for a reissue album, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
“He was a one-of-a-kind musician and man, and he defined a certain style of rhumba-boogie funk that was New Orleans R&B,” 64 Parishes states. “He was the guru, godfather and spiritual root doctor of all that came after him.”
For more tales from New Orleans history, visit the Back in the Day archives.
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