Happy Birthday, Walter "Wolfman" Washington!

Guitarist and singer Walter "Wolfman" Washington was born in New Orleans on December 21, 1943, and played in Lee Dorsey’s band when he was in his teens. In the mid 1960s, Washington played clubs in New Orleans with his All Fools Band, and in the 1970s he joined Johnny Adams' band. He played with Adams for 20 years, both performing live and also appearing on his records. During this time he continued to work as a solo artist, and in the late 1970s formed his own band, the Roadmasters, and toured Europe with them. While his roots are in blues music, he blends in the essence of funk and R&B to create his own unique sound.

Washington released his first solo album Rainin' In My Life in 1981, and landed a contract with Rounder Records in the mid 1980s, releasing three albums with them. He also released an album from Virgin subsidiary Point Blank Records. In 2008, he released Doin' the Funky Thing, his first album in many years. Washington started playing regularly at the Maple Leaf Bar with two New Orleans musicians, pianist Joe Krown and drummer Russell Batiste, and in 2008 the trio released Live at the Maple Leaf, a live recording. In 2018 he released My Future Is My Past to much acclaim, proving that he continues to be a creative force in the New Orleans music scene. Today let’s celebrate this wonderful musician and wish him a very happy birthday!

Photo: Masahiro Sumori

Happy Birthday, Mem Shannon!

Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Mem Shannon was born in New Orleans on December 21, 1959, and played both clarinet and guitar by the age of fifteen, due to being inspired by his father's collection of blues records. He started seriously practicing only after seeing B.B. King, and ultimately played in local bands for several years and enjoyed success locally. He took a job driving a cab and put his music career on hold in order to help his family pay bills after his father passed away in 1981.

In 1990 he began playing in local clubs again, and in the early 1990s, he formed a group called Mem Shannon and the Membership, who played at the 1991 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. His first album, A Cab Driver's Blues, was released on October 15, 1995, and featured snippets of actual conversations from his customers while in the cab. In April 1996, Shannon announced that he was giving up driving his cab in order to make playing music his full-time job. He toured extensively around the U.S., Europe, and Canada. Shannon was the first major new talent to come out of New Orleans in some time, and since thousands of foreigners visit New Orleans every spring for JazzFest, Shannon forged his reputation as an international touring musician easily. His music isn't stuck in a jump-shuffle mode. He takes a broader view, incorporating elements of funk, jazz, swamp rock, and classic rock into the Membership's blues-based sound. His song "S.U.V." (2002), won Living Blues magazine's Critics Poll Song of the Year, as well as receiving a Blues Music Award nomination for song of the year. Today let’s wish this New Orleans original a very happy birthday!

Photo: robbiesaurus - Flickr: Mem Shannon, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23150424

Celebrating the Birthday of Professor Longhair

Pianist and singer Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair, or “Fess” for short, was born on December 19, 1918, in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Learning to play on a piano that was missing some keys influenced his distinctive and instantly recognizable playing style. He began his career in New Orleans in 1948, the heyday of early rhythm and blues. The first version of his signature song, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans”, was recorded in 1949, and his only national commercial hit came in 1950 with “Bald Head”. During the 1950s, he recorded his favorites, “Tipitina” and “Go to the Mardi Gras”, and in 1964 he first recorded “Big Chief” with Earl King, the song’s composer. While he may not have achieved wide success during this time, he influenced many other New Orleans musicians, including Fats Domino, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint. 

In the 1960s, Professor Longhair disappeared from the music scene, and he supported himself as a janitor. But, in 1971, he performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and his career received a well-deserved renaissance. He performed at the Newport and Montreux Jazz Festivals, toured the United Kingdom, and recorded a live album in 1975. His albums became available across America by the 1980s.  Sadly, Professor Longhair died in his sleep on January 30, 1980, while filming the documentary Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together which costarred Allen Toussaint and Tuts Washington. In recognition of his great talent and contribution to music, in 1981 Longhair was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was awarded a posthumous Grammy Award for his early recordings released as House Party New Orleans Style, and in 1992, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Today we remember Fess and celebrate his life and many contributions to the music we love so much!

Happy Birthday, Kermit Ruffins!

Jazz trumpeter, singer, and composer Kermit Ruffins was born in New Orleans on December 19, 1964. Strongly influenced by Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Ruffins personifies the laid-back New Orleans vibe, performing New Orleans jazz standards and his own music. He co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band while he was still in high school, and they went on to revolutionize New Orleans brass bands and achieve great success and acclaim. After touring the world for about 10 years, Ruffins began to miss his hometown and decided to go solo. Over his career, he has put out over 15 albums, performed on the soundtrack to Disney’s Jungle Book, and played himself in the HBO series “Treme”. When he’s not at Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge, barbecuing outside or entertaining inside, or dazzling fans and friends at Kermit’s 9th Ward Juke Joint, he works to preserve and pass on the tradition of jazz. Wherever you may find him, he is always a passionate and tireless ambassador for the Crescent City. Happy Birthday, Kermit! All aboard!

Photo by: Derek Bridges New Orleans, LA - Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3920193

Celebrating the Birthday of James Booker

Singer and New Orleans rhythym and blues keyboardist James Carroll Booker, III, was born in New Orleans on December 17, 1939. His 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 attended the Xavier Academy Preparatory School, becoming highly skilled in classical music, and also combining elements of stride, blues, gospel and Latin piano styles in his performances. Booker made his recording debut in 1954 with "Doin' the Hambone" and "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby", produced by New Orleans legend Dave Bartholomew. In 1960, Booker's "Gonzo", reached number 43 on the Billboard chart and number 3 on the R&B record chart, followed by some moderate success. Unfortunately, he began abusing drugs, serving a brief sentence in Angola Prison for drug possession in 1970. 

In 1974, Booker played organ in Dr. John's Bonnaroo Revue touring band, and during this period, he appeared on albums by Ringo Starr, John Mayall, The Doobie Brothers, Labelle and Maria Muldaur. His 1975 performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival earned him a recording contract that produced the album, Junco Partner. Booker recorded a number of albums while touring Europe in 1977, and from 1978 to 1982, he was the house pianist at the Maple Leaf Bar in uptown New Orleans. Booker's last commercial recording, Classified, made in 1982, was completed in four hours. Sadly, Booker's mental and physical condition had deteriorated. Tragically, Booker died on November 8, 1983, while seated in a wheelchair in the emergency room at New Orleans' Charity Hospital, waiting to receive medical attention.

New Orleans legend Dr. John described Booker as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." While Booker left us far too soon, we can celebrate his immeasurable contribution to music on his birthday.

Photo by: Lionel decoster - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15835160

Celebrating the Birthday of Louis Prima

Trumpeter, singer, songwriter, actor, bandleader and composer Louis Prima was born in New Orleans on December 7, 1910. In the late 1920s Prima formed a New Orleans-style jazz band, then he led a swing band in the 1930s, and a big band group in the 1940s. By the 1950s, he had helped popularize jump blues and was a featured act in Las Vegas. From the 1940s through the 1960s he played early R&B, rock’n’roll, boogie woogie and Italian folk music. Despite that musicians of his era were discouraged from displaying their ethnic roots, Prima embraced his Italian heritage and helped pave the way for other musicians to display their ethnic roots in their music. Some of his most popular songs include, “Just A Gigolo”, “I Wanna Be Like You”, “Jump, Jive an’ Wail”, “Pennies from Heaven”, and “When You’re Smiling”. Sadly, Prima passed away on August 24, 1978, after a lengthy illness. Today we celebrate this unique performer who always left us smiling’!

Photo by: William P. Gottlieb