Roosevelt Sykes, one of the most famous and prolific blues pianists, He was a big man, a big left hand, a big voice, a big influence on blues piano playing. Precious few pianists could boast the thundering boogie prowess of Roosevelt Sykes - and even fewer could chase away the blues with his blues as the rotund cigar-chomping 88s ace did.
The Original Honeydripper! The ever-dapper Sykes was one of Blues' true Immortals. His recording career spanned seven decades and included an array of timeless classics. There was absolutely nothing downbeat about this roly-poly, effervescent pianist (nicknamed "Honeydripper" for his youthful prowess around the girls), whose lengthy career spanned the pre-war and postwar eras with no interruption whatsoever. Sykes's romping boogies and hilariously risqué lyrics (his double-entendre gems included "Dirty Mother for You," "Ice Cream Freezer," and "Peeping Tom") characterize his monumental contributions to the blues idiom - he was a pioneering piano-pounder responsible for the seminal pieces "44 Blues," "Driving Wheel," and "Night Time Is the Right Time."
Roosevelt Sykes was born on January 31, 1906 in Elmar, Arkansas although he was raised in St. Louis. He learned to play the organ in church. This allowed him to move over to the piano. He soon began to work in barrelhouses and jukes in Helena, Arkansas often working with pianist Lee Green. He kept St. Louis as his base of operation, but frequently traveled to Memphis and Chicago in the late 20's. He first recorded in 1929, his version of "Forty-Four Blues". This was released on the Okeh Record label. This helped to establish his reputation as one of the best blues pianists.
Roosevelt recorded for the Victor and Decca labels during the 1930's. He often recorded under pseudonyms like Easy Papa Johnson, Dobby Bragg or Willie Kelly. Sykes moved to Chicago in 1941 and continued to record. He worked with Memphis Minnie as well as recording with the Jump Jackson Band. He also recorded on his own and as a sideman for the Bluebird and Bullet labels. Roosevelt's nickname was Honeydripper (for his way with women) and so he formed a band called the Honeydrippers and began to tour the South regularly in World War II.
In 1954, Roosevelt left Chicago and moved to New Orleans when the electric blues began to dominate the Chicago blues scene. He found plenty of work in this area. In the 1960's, he toured Europe during the blues-folk revival and kept a full schedule recording for Decca, Prestige-Bluesville, Crown and Delmark Records. He settled in New Orleans during the late '60s, where he remained a local treasure.
Roosevelt Sykes continued to work, playing his boogie-woogie style, through the 70's until his death on July 17, 1983. Roosevelt Sykes music is available on The Honeydripper (Original Blues Classics).
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Ever since I saw you play at the Maple Leaf and the 30 odd head sitting at your feet by the piano, I knew you were the man! King of the blues and always an inspiration.
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