Roosevelt Sykes

A tavern and brothel pianist from the age of twelve, Roosevelt Sykes found himself in St. Louis in 1928, defining the city's urban style characterized by a guitar-piano duo. In the company of the city's finest guitarists (Henry Townsend, Lonnie Johnson), Sykes recorded extensively from 1929 onwards, scoring numerous hits ("Night Time Is The Right Time", "The Honeydripper"). The war brought him to Chicago, where he was one of the first to set up a muscular electric orchestra with a brass section. Sykes was also present at the start of the blues revival of the 60s in the USA and Europe. He played and recorded until the end of his life, the last years spent in New Orleans in the Vieux Quartier.