Professor Longhair

Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd (December 19, 1918 – January 30, 1980), better known as Professor Longhair, is noteworthy for having been active in two distinct periods: both in the heyday of early rhythm and blues, and in the resurgence of interest in traditional jazz after the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Byrd made a living as a street hustler until he started to play piano seriously in his thirties. Self-taught, he learned to play on a piano with missing keys, developing his own distinct style in the process. The journalist Tony Russell, in his book The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, stated "The vivacious rhumba-rhythmed piano blues and choked singing typical of Fess were too weird to sell millions of records; he had to be content with siring musical offspring who were simple enough to manage that, like Fats Domino or Huey 'Piano' Smith. But he is also acknowledged as a father figure by subtler players like Allen Toussaint and Dr. John."