⬇️ JAMES BOOKER ⬇️
(James Carroll Booker III)
DISCOGRAPHY 1976-2023 (21LP/CD)
BIOGRAPHY
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 was a church pastor. Booker received a saxophone as a gift from his mother, but he was more interested in the keyboard. He played the 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 music by Bach and Chopin, among
other composers. He also mastered and memorized solos by Erroll Garner and
Liberace. His performances combined elements of stride, blues, gospel and
Latin piano styles.
Booker made his recording debut in 1954 on the Imperial Records label,
with "Doin' the Hambone" and "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby", produced by Dave
Bartholomew. This led to some session work with Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis,
and Lloyd Price.
In 1958, Arthur Rubinstein performed a concert in New Orleans. Afterwards,
eighteen-year-old Booker was introduced to the concert pianist and played
several tunes for him. Rubinstein was astonished, saying "I could never
play that ... never at that tempo" (The Times-Picayune, 1958).[6] During
this period, Booker also became known for his flamboyant personality among
his peers. After recording a few other singles, he enrolled as an
undergraduate in Southern University's music department.
In 1960, Booker's "Gonzo", for Peacock Records, reached number 43 on the
United States (U.S.) record chart of Billboard magazine and number 3 on
the R&B record chart. Following "Gonzo", Booker released some
moderately successful singles. In the 1960s, he started using illicit
drugs, and in 1970 served a brief sentence in Angola Prison for drug
possession. At the time, Professor Longhair and Ray Charles were among his
important musical influences.
As Booker became more familiar to law enforcement in New Orleans due to
his illicit drug use, he formed a relationship with District Attorney
Harry Connick Sr., who was occasionally Booker's legal counsel. Connick
would discuss law with Booker during his visits to the Connick home and
made an arrangement with the musician whereby a prison sentence would be
nullified in exchange for piano lessons for Connick Sr.'s son Harry
Connick Jr. ...
(Wikipedia)
NEW!
2021-True (1978.04.25-Live At Tipitina's) (LP) @FLAC24
2023-Behind The Iron Curtain Plus (5CD) @FLAC
VA-Rhapsody In Bronze @FLAC