Professor Longhair: Baby let me hold your hand/Looka no hair

103 | 24 September 2023

Professor Longhair | 42 Parishes – The Historic New Orleans Collection

New Orleans Blues singer Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd, known as Professor Longhair, or “Fess”, was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana on December 19, 1918. Regarded as a major influence on Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Malcolm John Rebennack Jr (Dr John). He began his career in 1948. The first version of his signagture song, “Mardi Gras In New Orleans”, was recorded in 1949. In 1957 he suffered a stroke. In 1964 he was working as a janitor to make a living. His career regained momentum in the 1970s and appeared at a number of jazz and blues festivals. “Baby let me hold your hand” is a re-working of a traditional song; it has also been re-worked by Bob Dylan and The Animals.

Professor Longhair died in New Orleans on January 30, 1980.

Released on 24 September 1965 on UK Sue WI 397. Did not chart.

14565

Larry Williams, Bony Moronie

Larry Williams was born on May 10, 1935, was a friend of Little Richard, a cousin of Lloyd Price, and wrote some rock and roll classics during the late 1950s. Bony Moronie is one of them and it was recorded in 1957, and with all Specialty recordings of the time issued in the UK first on London American HL-U 8532. Williams was a talented, but also a troubled man who died on January 7, 1980 aged 44.

US Pop No. 14, R&B No. 4, UK No. 11, 1957.

Vinyl Sid | bony78.jpg

Updated and converted to blocks 7.3.21