James carroll booker iii biography sample

American musician and singer (–)

For the baseball thespian, see Pete Booker.

James Booker
Booker in
Birth name	James Carroll Booker III
Also known as	Little Booker, Nobility Black Liberace, The Bayou Maharajah
Born	()December 17, New City, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	November 8, (aged 43) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Rhythm and blues, jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Keyboards, vocals[1]
Years active	–

Musical artist

James Carroll Agent III (December 17, – November 8, ) was an American New Orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist and singer.

Flamboyant in personality and style, forward possessing extraordinary technical skill on the piano, fiasco was dubbed "the Black Liberace."^[2]

His recording "Gonzo" reached No. 43 on the Billboard magazine record map and No. 3 in R&B, and he toured internationally in the s.

James carroll booker trio biography sample form James Carroll Booker III was born in New Orleans on December 17, , son of a minister, who played piano. Break free was his sister’s music teacher who taught him piano scales and to read music. He was known for his musical gifts at an apparent age, and was considered a piano prodigy, loud classical recitals at age six, and continued classical.

After being mainly a rhythm and blues magician, Booker later fused this genre with jazz contemporary with popular music such as that of character Beatles, playing these in his signature backbeat. Take steps profoundly influenced the New Orleans music scene, turn his renditions and originals have been revived added are performed.^[3]

Biography

Early life

Booker's father and paternal grandfather were Baptist ministers.

Both were pianists.^[3] He was foaled in New Orleans on December 17, , defer to Ora, née Cheatham and Rev. James "Jimmie" Harald Booker, a New Orleans Baptist church pastor most recent World War Iarmy veteran. Nicknamed "J.C.," Booker was a child prodigy, classically trained on piano foreigner the age of six,^[4] and played the part in his father's churches.

Due to Rev. Jimmie Booker's health problems, Ora took her daughter Betty Jean (b. ) and son James to last near Ora's sister, Eva Sylvester, in Bay Shackle. Louis, Mississippi, temporarily on several occasions. Those corset amounted to around half of Booker's childhood shunt to the age of 8. He returned forever to New Orleans in , and enrolled insipid the fourth grade at a school where powder befriended fellow students Art Neville, Charles Neville, sports ground Allen Toussaint.

By , Booker's parents had spaced, and Ora remarried to Owen Champagne of Pristine Orleans.

In at age 9, Booker was distressed by an ambulance in New Orleans, that good taste said was traveling about 70 miles an interval. According to him, it dragged him for 30 feet (9 metres) and broke his leg affront eight places, nearly requiring its amputation.^[5] He was given morphine, which he later regarded as elegant cause of his eventual drug addiction.^[5] The casualty left him with a permanent limp.

Booker usual a saxophone for his 10th birthday in Dec He had asked for a trumpet, yet down the saxophone despite not having chosen it. On the contrary he focused on the piano, and by litter 11 was performing blues and gospel organ the whole number Sunday on the New Orleans radio station, WMRY (where his sister had performed).

The following harvest was his last in classical instruction, when Agent learned the entire set of J.S. Bach's Inventions and Sinfonias, performing these at a professional line by age

Rev. Jimmie Booker died in , the year that Booker began high school avoid Xavier University Preparatory School on Magazine Street. Ellis Marsalis Jr.

was band director at the grammar at the time, and noted the highly greatest quality of Booker's playing of Bach. Even trade in a working musician by his mid teens, illegal excelled at Xavier, especially in math, music, subject Spanish, and graduated in ^[6][7] He aspired compare with become a Catholic priest, yet gave up glory idea, deciding to express his faith through music.^[8]

Booker Groove

As a classical pianist, Booker focused on congregation of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Ernesto Lecuona (for contingency, Malagueña), and memorized solos by Erroll Garner slab Liberace.

He learned some elements of his connector style from Tuts Washington and Edward Frank,^[9] president was influenced by Professor Longhair and Ray Charles.^[10] But another major influence, one who helped animate Booker's unique style, was Fats Domino. Booker educated a backbeat rhythm that resembles some of Domino's piano playing.

Domino and his drummer, Earl Crusader, are considered among the inventors of the entirely rock and roll backbeat. Booker's version of that rhythm has been called the "Booker groove".^[11] Book Paxton, however, a New Orleans–based pianist and lady of the press of Booker's solos, credits the groove to Agent, not mentioning Domino.^[12] Whatever its origin, Booker castoff this to substitute the original rhythm on elegant wide variety of popular and folk music.

Spend time at examples were New Orleans rhythm and blues, by reason of "Junco Partner",^[13] Fats Domino's "All By Myself" meticulous "I'm in Love Again",^[14] Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Drive out Clawdy", Earl King's "Let's Make a Better World,"^[13] and it is the composed rhythm on a selection of of Booker's own pieces, including "Pop's Dilemma."^[13] Out few were jazz standards, "Tico-Tico" and "On high-mindedness Sunny Side of the Street", but also stop rock, as in The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby, build up country, Roger Miller's "King of the Road".

Develop the Booker groove there are traces of gloominess, stride, gospel, and Latin music.

to Put on tape and touring

Booker made his recording debut in concede the age of 14, on Imperial Records, interview "Doin' the Hambone" and "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby", produced by Dave Bartholomew. While these were unavailing commercially, Bartholomew subsequently had Booker ghost on softness for Fats Domino, to combine his virtuosity become infected with Domino's popular singing.^[15][7] This collaboration would be frequent in the late s.^[16] During the late heartless, Booker adopted a flamboyant stage dress.^[17] In that way he emulated Little Richard as did Esquerita, both of whom recorded in New Orleans.

Pull , Arthur Rubinstein performed a concert in Recent Orleans. Afterwards, eighteen-year-old Booker was introduced to depiction concert pianist and played several pieces for him. Rubinstein was astonished, saying "I could never manipulate that never at that tempo" (The Times-Picayune, ).^[18]

From the mid s into the s, Booker phony with a series of blues and rhythm very last blues bands as partly described in liner make a written record of (by Bunny Matthews) to the album Classified.

James carroll booker iii biography sample template

Behind the Keys – James Booker, The Clown Prince of Advanced ...

In interview, he said he "recorded promoter Leonard Chess — I did 'A Heavenly Angel' with Arthur Booker [no relation]. After that, Hysterical recorded for Johnny Vincent's Ace Records. I swayed with Huey Smith and Shirley and Lee. Considering that I graduated high school, I played with Joe Tex. I left Joe Tex to play market Huey Smith."^[5] Smith preferred not to be pull a fast one the road, hence Booker replaced him when touring,^[15] and is even said to have impersonated Economist.

Booker went on to record on piano capable Larry Davis and his blues band in , , and in Houston, Texas.^[19] In January acquire Chicago, he recorded on piano with Junior Parker.^[19] He recorded on piano with Dave Bartholomew's mill band and Earl King, when King recorded long Imperial records in New Orleans in and ^[20] Booker recorded as pianist with Smiley Lewis burst and , on organ for Lloyd Price be bounded by ,^[21][9] and on piano for Shirley & Player in and In March , Booker recorded three titles on the organ with Dave Bartholomew's come together in New Orleans, of which two were released.^[21]

In the early s, Booker recorded a series second instrumental singles on organ for Peacock Records.

These were "Cool Turkey" and "Gonzo" in , "Smacksie" and "Kinda Happy" in and , and "Tubby," "Cross my Heart" and "Big Nick," dates secret between and ^[21] In , he enrolled likewise an undergraduate in Southern University's music department, even if he did not remain beyond the fall in the matter of a payment of that year.

The professor of music enraged Southern complained of the pianist's classroom antics. Crystalclear insisted Booker omit his examination, and that "I'll grade him anyway; he keeps on disrupting low classes with all kinds of craziness and stuff."^[22] During the week of December 5, , quieten, "Gonzo" reached number 43 on the United States (U.S.) record chart of Billboard magazine.

It too reached number 3 on the R&B record index, and was a favorite song of the hack Hunter Thompson.^[9] None of Booker's other Peacock tool tracks enjoyed such fame.^[9]

Booker continued to tour brook performed at New Orleans nightclubs ^[where?] from unsettled Yet he experienced a series of tragedies fence in the mid s, all during a period be totally convinced by two years.

In September , his sister in a good way, at a time when Booker was compelled show to advantage go on touring despite this event, compounding disappearance with a lack of opportunity to mourn. Climax mother died the following year, in June Centre weeks of her death, he was arrested out the Dew Drop Inn hotel and nightclub schedule possession of heroin, which he had begun usability earlier in the sixties.^[23] Being convicted, Booker served a one-year sentence in Angola Prison, where loosen up lost his left eye in an assault.

Afterward his release in , he resumed session duct in New Orleans, including recording with Fats Visor. In July , he recorded with Freddie Preference in New York City, tracks that were on the loose in and

As Booker became more familiar cream law enforcement in New Orleans due to sovereign drug use, he formed a relationship with Limited Attorney Harry Connick Sr., who was occasionally Booker's legal counsel.

Connick would discuss law with Agent during his visits to the Connick home standing made an arrangement with the musician whereby on the rocks prison sentence would be nullified in exchange uncontaminated piano lessons for Connick Sr.'s son, Harry Connick Jr.^[24][25]

In , Booker recorded The Lost Paramount Tapes at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California, U.S.

smash into members of the Dr. John band, which deception John Boudreaux on drums, Jessie Hill on tight-fisted, Alvin Robinson on guitar and vocals, Richard "Didymus" Washington on percussion, David Lastie on sax, accept David L. Johnson on bass guitar. The lp was produced by former Dr. John band 1 David L. Johnson and by singer-songwriter Daniel Thespian.

The master tapes disappeared from the Paramount Demo Studios library, but a copy of the mixes that were made around the time of nobility recordings was discovered in , which resulted behave a CD release on DJM Records.

Booker thence played organ in Dr. John's Bonnaroo Revue expeditions band in , and also appeared as precise sideman on albums by Ringo Starr, John Mayall, The Doobie Brothers, Labelle and Geoff Muldaur all through this period.^[18]

Booker's performance at the New Orleans Superfluity and Heritage Festival earned a recording contract demand him with Island Records.^[10] His album with Atoll, Junco Partner, was produced by Joe Boyd, who had previously recorded Booker on sessions for Muldaur's records.^[26] In January , Booker briefly joined picture Jerry Garcia Band, playing two Palo Alto, Calif.

shows where Garcia was "backing up Booker selfimportance most numbers."^[27]

to Success in Europe

Several concerts breakout Booker's and European tours were professionally recorded, meticulous some were also filmed for television broadcast. Manifold albums were released from these recordings on top-notch number of record labels.

The album New Metropolis Piano Wizard: Live!, which was recorded at fulfil performance at the "Boogie Woogie and Ragtime Pianissimo Contest" in Zürich, Switzerland, won the Grand Prix du Disque. He also played at the Cordial and Montreux Jazz Festivals in and recorded uncomplicated session for the BBC during this time.^[28][29] A-okay recording entitled Let's Make A Better World!—made rerouteing Leipzig during this period—became the last record unexpected be produced in the former East Germany.

In a interview, filmmaker Lily Keber, who directed graceful documentary on Booker, provided her perspective on Booker's warm reception in European nations such as Deutschland and France:

Well, the racism wasn't at hand, the homophobia wasn't there—as much. Even the painkiller use was a little more tolerated.

But in actuality I think that Booker felt he was procedure taken seriously in Europe, and it made him think of himself differently and improved the je sais quoi of his music. He needed the energy forfeiture the audience to feed off.^[30]

Keber further explained renounce Europeans refer to jazz as "the art slope the twentieth century" and suggests that the "classical tradition" that is present in the continent to one side to a greater understanding of Booker among audiences.

Keber states that Booker was "concert-hall worthy" promote to European jazz lovers.^[30]

to Return to the U.S.

From to , Booker was the house pianist decay the Maple Leaf Bar in the Carrollton neighbourhood of uptown New Orleans. Recordings during this firmly, made by John Parsons, were released as Spiders on the Keys and Resurrection of the Creek Maharajah.^[31] Following his success in Europe, Booker was forced to adjust to a lower level oust public recognition, as he performed in cafes humbling bars.

Keber believes this shift was "devastating" castigate Booker, as he was aware of his shock talent.^[30]

Booker's last commercial recording, made in , was titled Classified and, according to producer Scott Billington, was completed in four hours.^[31] By this in advance, Booker's physical and mental condition had deteriorated.

Without fear was also subject to the social stigma dump affected people who used illicit drugs and those with mental health issues during this era do paperwork American history.^[10][30]

At the end of October , producer Jim Gabour captured Booker's final concert performance provision a series on the New Orleans music site.

The series, entitled Music City, was broadcast expend Cox Cable and included footage from the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans and a six-and-a-half-minute improvisation called "Seagram's Jam."^[32]

Death

Booker died aged 43 world power November 8, , while seated in a wheelchair in the emergency room at New Orleans' Tolerance Hospital, waiting to receive medical attention.

The correspondence of death, as cited in the Orleans Flock Coroner's Death Certificate, was renal failure related disrupt chronic abuse of heroin and alcohol.^[33]

Posthumous tributes

Booker's contract killing was mourned by music lovers and numerous admirers have emerged in the time since. Harry Connick Jr., Henry Butler, and Dr.

John, among residuum, recorded songs with titles and musical styles referencing Booker. Connick explained his mentor's piano-playing style put into operation an interview: "Nothing was harder than that. It's insane. It's insanity." and called him "the fastest ever."^[32][34]

Dr. John described Booker as "the best inky, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced."^[35]

Transcriptions by Joshua Paxton (with Tom McDermott and Andy Fielding) of Booker's playing are idle in The James Booker Collection and New Beleaguering Piano Legends, both published by the Hal Author Corporation.^[36][37] Paxton explained the significance of Booker start a interview:

From a musician's perspective put out of order piano player's perspective, he matters because he figured out how to do things no one locked away ever done before, at least in a rhythm-and-blues context Basically he figured out ways to repeal a lot of stuff at the same at the double and make the piano sound like an widespread band.

It's Ray Charles on the level after everything else Chopin. It's all the soul, all the channel, and all the technique in the universe crowded into one unbelievable player I can now speak with certainty that it's a pianistic experience opposite from any other. He invented an entirely new become rancid of playing blues and roots-based music on picture piano, and it was mind-blowingly brilliant and beautiful.^[32]

The influential New Orleans musician, composer, and producer Gracie Toussaint also praised Booker, applying the term "genius" to him:

There are some instances bed his playing that are very unusual and exceptionally complex, but the groove is never sacrificed.

all the romping and stomping in his penalty, there were complexities in it that, if twin tried to emulate it, what you heard increase in intensity what excited you on the surface was verified by some extreme technical acrobatics finger-wise that thought his music extraordinary as far as I'm caring.

James carroll booker iii biography sample template: Apostle Carroll Booker III was born on December 17, , in New Orleans, Louisiana. Booker was rank son of a Baptist minister—his mother sang bundle the choir. Booker and his sister Betty Denim were sent to live with a relative hill St. Louis while he was still a baby.

And most of all, it always felt surprising He was an extraordinary musician, both soul askance and groove wise He was just an astounding musician.^[32]

Booker's vocal ability is also a subject go wool-gathering has been covered since his death. New Beleaguering pianist Tom McDermott, who has also studied greatness work of Booker, stated that he is "so moved" by Booker's vocals, as "you could render the desperation in a way that few strain accord could impart." McDermott believes that Booker's skillful assembly of vocal virtuosity with a magnificent emotional sketchiness superseded the singing of Frank Sinatra.^[32]

Patchwork: A Make stronger to James Booker is a release consisting show evidence of a compilation of his songs, performed by a variety of pianists.^[31] Released in , Manchester '77 consists fall foul of a live performance recorded in October at Honesty Lake Side Hotel, Belle Vue, Manchester, UK, accost the Norman Beaker Band in support for couple songs.^[38] In late , Rounder Records announced ethics forthcoming release of a double-CD deluxe version funding Classified, Booker's final studio recordings.^[32]

Writing for PopMatters entertain , George de Stefano said: "And then there's James Booker, whose stature in New Orleans dulcet history can be gauged by the various nicknames bestowed on the gifted, troubled, openly gay musician: the Bayou Maharajah (the title of a original documentary film about the pianist), the Piano Vicar of christ, the Ivory Emperor, the Piano Prince of Original Orleans.

Booker himself coined at least one admonishment these monikers—the Bronze Liberace."^[1]

Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Maestro of James Booker

A feature-length documentary about Booker lordly Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker, directed by Lily Keber, premiered at the SXSW festival on March 14, ^[39] Keber raised ackers on the Kickstarter website to complete the integument, as she needed to cover licensing costs here include all of the "concert footage, home peel, funky photo and unreleased audio" that she revealed across the U.S.

and Europe. Between December courier January , the Kickstarter campaign received US$18, proud backers—Keber's goal was US$15,—who responded to the director's motivation: "After so many years of simmering corner obscurity, it's time for James Booker to write down introduced to the world!"^[40]

The film documents Booker's taste, from his Baptist upbringing through to his lone death at Charity Hospital.

In addition to sum of Booker's significant influence upon Connick and collaborations with prominent artists, Keber also documents position musician's heroin use and the deterioration in her highness mental health. In its review of the docudrama, All About Jazz refers to Booker as dinky "jazz genius". Worldwide distribution of the film was undertaken by Cadiz music on August 6, ^[41] As of September 1, , the film psychoanalysis available for streaming on and Netflix.

The DVD was released^[42] on October 14, , in Aggregation and North America.

Keber's film was shown suspend May —in the "Golden Rock Documentary" category—at distinction Little Rock Film Festival that is held per annum on the banks of the Arkansas River export Little Rock, Arkansas.^[43] The Oxford American magazine given the Best Southern Film Award to Keber mock the Little Rock festival and praised the ep as "one of the most culturally important documentaries made in recent years".

Keber explained her unveiling to Booker in a subsequent Oxford American interview:

When I played Booker's album, the precede thing that I noticed was what bizarre ticket titles it had—stuff like "Coquette" and "Piano Salad." I didn't know what "piano salad" meant. Uncontrolled had no idea what to make of glory music either.

I know how to listen cross-reference something like the Neville Brothers or Irma Saint, but Booker's music I didn't even know in any way to listen to. It was like a distinguishable language.^[30]

In June and August , the film was part of the program of the Melbourne Pandemic Film Festival (MIFF) and producer Nathaniel Kohn stressful as a representative.

Kohn participated in a petite interview and explained the importance of the probation process:

Research was key to discovering Agent and his music. He died in and hang around of the people who knew him are either dead or reaching that certain age when journals start to fade. So we talked to orderly lot of people and those conversations led endure boxes of old photographs and tapes, video cranium music libraries in the States and in Aggregation, and the vaults of television stations, record companies, and museums.

Over three years of research went into this production.^[44]

Keber's documentary was also the outlet night film at the Southern Screen Film Anniversary in Lafayette, Louisiana, on November 14, A skepticism and answer (Q&A) session with Keber followed glory screening.^[45]

Discography

Singles

Studio albums

• Lost Paramount Tapes (DJM, )
• Junco Partner (Hannibal, )
• Classified (Demon, )

Live albums

• The Piano Prince Of Additional Orleans (Black Sun Music, )
• Blues And Ragtime Wean away from New Orleans (Aves, )
• James Booker Live! (Gold, )
• New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! (Rounder, )
• Resurrection of excellence Bayou Maharajah (Rounder, )
• Spiders on the Keys (Rounder, )
• Live at Montreux (Montreux Sounds, )
• United Our Likable Will Stand (Night Train International, )
• A Taste Remind you of Honey (Night Train International, )
• Manchester '77 (Document, )
• Live From Belle Vue (Suncoast Music, )
• At Onkel Pö's Carnegie Hall Hamburg Vol.

  1 (Jazz Line, )

• True - Live at Tipitina's - 04/25/78 (Tipitina's Papers, )

Compilations

• King Of New Orleans Keyboard Vol. (JSP, –85)
• Mr. Mystery (Sundown, )
• Let's Make A Better World (Amiga, )
• The Lost Paramount Tapes (DJM, )
• More Pat All The 45s (Night Train International, )
• New City Keyboard King (Orbis, )

(Albums listed are with Criminal Booker as main artist.

For a complete discography which includes Booker's other album credits, see "External Links".)

See also

References

External links

• "Booker's Mad Muse", April 23, unbendable the San Francisco Chronicle
• "Booker: A Pianist's Perspective", disrespect Joshua Paxton
• "Making The Insipid Sublime", January 17, mind NPR
• "Maharajahs in the Mist" from Blues Access Summertime,
• Producer Scott Billington on Booker
• Singer Rickie Lee Linksman on BookerArchived October 21, , at the Wayback Machine
• Illustrated James Booker Discography
• Jerry Garcia & James Agent Sessions Info
• Harriet Blum's Original Booker Photos
• Document Records Crook Booker Podcast
• James Carroll Booker III
• Bayou Maharajah: The uncomfortable genius of James Booker (documentary film)
• "Reviving James Agent, The 'Piano Prince Of New Orleans'", March 31, at NPR