Henry Roeland Byers

Place: New Orleans

Born: 1948

Death: 2018

Biography:

Henry Roeland Byers was an American pianist and photographer, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1948 or 1949, and died in New York in 2018. He was considered an heir to the lineage of great pianists from New Orleans, such as Professor Longhair, James Booker, Tuts Washington, and Jelly Roll Morton.

Career and Style

Byers was blind, but that did not prevent him from becoming a talented photographer, with his work exhibited in galleries. He was also a pianist and musician of jazz. His style was unique and instantly recognizable, combining rumba, mambo, and calypso. Byers released several albums on labels such as Impulse!, Black Top Records, Atlantic Records, and MCA Records. He also appeared in the series Treme on HBO and contributed to the soundtrack of the series The Corner.

Influences and Legacy

Byers' music was influenced by the Afro-Caribbean influences that Jelly Roll Morton described as "the Spanish tinge." He played in an idiosyncratic manner that differed from conventional structure, dropping or adding beats at will. This approach is known as "jumping time." Byers' legacy can be seen in the many musicians who have been influenced by his style, including Allen Toussaint and Dr. John.

• Pianists such as Kid Stormy Weather and Archibald (Leon T. Gross) also influenced Byers as he hung out, and sometimes played, at the clubs along South Rampart Street.
• Byers often gave his band somewhat whimsical names, including The Shuffling Hungarians and later, The Blues Scholars.
• Over the years, Byers used various pseudonyms, partially to avoid detection for violating exclusive recording contracts when he illegally made records for other companies.

Artistic Works and Exhibitions

Byers' work can be found in various museums and galleries, including the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. His photographs are also available on Wikioo.org, where you can find a wide range of artistic works and exhibitions. For more information about Byers' life and work, you can visit his page on Wikipedia. You can also explore the world of art at Wikioo.org, where you can find a vast collection of artistic works, including paintings by famous artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt Van Rijn, and Vincent Van Gogh.