1. Henry Roeland Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair or "Fess" for short, was an American singer and pianist who performed New Orleans blues.
20 Facts About Professor Longhair
1. 2.
Professor Longhair was active in two distinct periods, first in the heyday of early rhythm and blues and later in the resurgence of interest in traditional jazz after the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970.
3.
Professor Longhair began his career in New Orleans in 1948.
4.
Professor Longhair first recorded in a band called the Shuffling Hungarians in 1949, creating four songs for the Star Talent record label.
5.
Union problems curtailed their release, but Professor Longhair's next effort for Mercury Records the same year was a winner.
6.
Professor Longhair had only one national commercial hit, "Bald Head", in 1950, under the name Roy Byrd and His Blues Jumpers.
7.
Professor Longhair recorded his favorites, "Tipitina" and "Go to the Mardi Gras".
8.
Professor Longhair lacked crossover appeal among white and wide audiences.
9.
Professor Longhair re-recorded "Go to the Mardi Gras" in 1959.
10.
Professor Longhair first recorded "Big Chief" with its composer, Earl King, in 1964.
11.
Professor Longhair became a janitor to support himself and fell into a gambling habit.
12.
Professor Longhair was invited to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1971 and at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973.
13.
Professor Longhair died in his sleep of a heart attack while the filming of the documentary was under way.
14.
Professor Longhair was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans.
15.
Professor Longhair was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981.
16.
Professor Longhair was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
17.
Professor Longhair was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2016 at his former home in New Orleans.
18.
Alexander Stewart stated that Professor Longhair was a key figure bridging the worlds of boogie-woogie and the new style of rhythm and blues.
19.
In several of his early recordings, Professor Longhair blended Afro-Cuban rhythms with rhythm and blues.
20.
Professor Longhair's thing had a direct bearing I'd say on a large portion of the funk music that evolved in New Orleans.