This year, the name that our musical guests have most consistently mentioned is Professor Longhair. It began, well, at the beginning. Longhair, whose friends call him Fess, figured into the very first answer from the very first guest on the very first Music Inside Out.
Since then, others have conjured his name when describing the best of New Orleans music. As it turns out, Longhair — who died in 1980 — remains a guiding spirit to musicians and music lovers everywhere. So as a matter of duty and privilege, we're spreading the joy.
This week's show is devoted to Henry Roeland Byrd, a.k.a Professor Longhair, and features some of his most ardent musical disciples. We hear from David Torkanowsky, Reggie Scanlan, and Allen Toussaint. We're also talking with Longhair's daughter, Pat. As Longhair might say, we're gonna "Ball the Wall!"
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In 1982, Stevenson Palfi produced a landmark documentary titled Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together (IMDB), which chronicled three generations of New Orleans piano players. In this excerpt, we see both Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint.
Classified Spotify | MOG
James Booker
How Long Has That Train Been Gone? MOG
Professor Longhair
CD: Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most Spotify | MOG
David Torkanowsky
CD: Steppin' Out
Mess Around MOG
Professor Longhair
CD: Rock 'n Roll Gumbo
Big Chief Spotify | MOG
Professor Longhair and Earl King
CD: Ultimate Mardi Gras
Gone So Long
Professor Longhair
CD: House Party New Orleans
Whole Lotta Loving Spotify | MOG
Professor Longhair
CD: Crawfish Fiesta
Her Mind is Gone
Professor Longhair
CD: Ball the Wall! — Live at Tipitina's, 1978
Good Rockin' Tonight, Shake Rattle Roll, Sick and Tired, Roberta
Professor Longhair
CD: Ball the Wall! — Live at Tipitina's, 1978
Tipitina MOG
Professor Longhair
CD: Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo
Hey Little Girl
Professor Longhair
CD: Ball the Wall! — Live at Tipitina's, 1978
Ball the Wall aka 501 Boogie
CD: Ball the Wall! — Live at Tipitina's 1978
(They Call Me) Dr. Professor Longhair MOG
CD: Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo
Baldhead MOG
Professor Longhair
CD: The London Concert
Ascension Day
Live Instrumental
Allen Toussaint
Cry to Me Spotify | MOG
Profesor Longhair
Crawfish Fiesta
Classified Spotify | MOG
James Booker
It's My Fault, Darling Spotify | MOG
Professor Longhair
CD: Crawfish Fiesta
Special thanks this week to: The Tipitina's Foundation, Steve Armbruster, Project Homecoming, and Allison Gouaux. Also, thanks to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation for their support.
