30 Top Blues Musicians In Pictures

Of this grouping — Ray Charles, Bessie Smith, B.B. King et al — my favorite image is of Professor Longhair (pictured). What? You don’t know about Professor Longhair? Born in 1918 and dead in 1990, he was born Henry Roeland Byrd in New Orleans. His vibrant blues and R&B piano playing inspired Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John among many others.

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