Professor Longhair

Live On The Queen Mary Professor Longhair

The Professor Longhair live album documents a performance underwritten by Paul and Linda McCartney. The album was recorded March 24, 1975 on the Queen Mary cruise ship docked in Long Beach, California, USA at a private party hosted by Paul and Linda McCartney. Highlights include the rollicking "Mess Around," and the standards "Stagger Lee," "Everyday I Have the Blues," "I'm Movin' On," and his hits "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" and "Tipitina."

Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd (December 19, 1918 - January 30, 1980), better known as Professor Longhair, was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist. He was active in two distinct periods, first in the heyday of early rhythm and blues and later on during the resurgence of interest in traditional jazz surrounding the start of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He influenced other New Orleans musicians such as Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John with his rumba, mambo, and calypso piano based blues sound.