James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 - November 8, 1983) was a New Orleans rhythm and blues musician born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Booker's unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards.
Booker was the son and grandson of Baptist ministers, both of whom played the piano. He spent most of his childhood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where his father pastored a church. Booker received a saxophone as a gift from his mother, but he demonstrated a stronger interest in the keyboard. He first played organ in his father's churches.
After returning to New Orleans in his early adolescence, Booker attended the Xavier Academy Preparatory School. He learned some elements of his keyboard style from Tuts Washington and Edward Frank.Booker was highly skilled in classical music and played Bach and Chopin, among other composers. He also mastered and memorized solos by Erroll Garner, and Liberace. His thorough background in piano literature may have enabled his original and virtuosic interpretations of jazz and other popular music. These performances combined elements of stride, blues, gospel and Latin piano styles.
Booker made his recording debut in 1954 on the Imperial label, with "Doin' the Hambone" and "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby." This led to some session work with Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, and Lloyd Price.
Here are some pictures of Booker:
He also has many piano classics that you might wanna check out:
1.Junco Partner 1976
2.The Piano Prince Of New Orleans 1976
3.Blues & Ragtime From New Orleans 1976
4.New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! 1977
5.Classified 1982
6.King of the New Orleans Keyboard Vol. I & II 1984-85
7.Mr. Mystery 1984
8.Let's Make A Better World! 1991
9.Resurrection Of The Bayou Maharajah 1993
No comments:
Post a Comment