Professor Longhair

New Orleans Blues singer Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd, known as Professor Longhair, or “Fess”, was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana on December 19, 1918. Regarded as a major influence on Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Malcolm John Rebennack Jr (Dr John). He began his career in 1948. The first version of his signagture song, “Mardi Gras In New Orleans”, was recorded in 1949. In 1957 he suffered a stroke. In 1964 he was working as a janitor to make a living. His career regained momentum in the 1970s and appeared at a number of jazz and blues festivals. “Baby let me hold your hand” is a re-working of a traditional song; it has also been re-worked by Bob Dylan and The Animals.

Professor Longhair died in New Orleans on January 30, 1980.

Image: 42 Parishes - Historic New Orleans Collection

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Owen Gray

Owen Grey | Copyright Control | 25006 Singer and song writer and musician Owen Gray was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 5 July 1939 and is regarded as a pioneer of Jamaican popular music. He won his first talent contest aged nine. By twelve he had joined a band, playing drums, guitar and keyboards. He became associated with Chris Blackwell in 1960, and was one of the first artistes to be produced by Blackwell. In 1962 he emigrated to the United Kingdom, toured Europe in 1964, and since 1966 became recognised as a soul as well as reggae singer. In the 1970s he relocated to New Orleans and then back to Jamaica. Since the 1980s he lived in Miami, Florida. Owen Grey died in London, UK, on 20 July, 2025.

Anita Wood

Anita Wood | Copyright Control | 25007 Anita Marie Wood Brewer was born in 1937 and was a girl friend for a time to Elvis Presley. Her recording of "Dream Baby"/ “This has happened before” (US Santo 9054, 1964) was issued on Sue WI 328. She sang with Andy Williams, uncredited, on his 1959 hit of “The Hawaiian Wedding Song” and appeared regularly in his television series. Anita Wood died of pneumonia at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, on 29 June 2023, age 85.

Various Artists - The Sue Story Vol. 2 - ILP 933

ILP 933 - Various Artists - The Sue Story Volume 2 (06.66) Track Listing: The Hollywood Argyles - Sho' know a lot about love (Paxton, Fowley) | Ron Holden - My babe (Holden) | Thurston Harris - Little bitty pretty one (Day) | Dee Clark - Hey little girl (Blackwell, Stevenson) | Lee Diamond - Hatti Malatti (Wilbert Smith) | Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - Stay (Williams) | Shirley and Lee - Let the good times roll (Goodman, Lee) | Richie Valens - La bamba (Traditional arrange by Valens) | Phil Upchurch Combo - You can't sit down parts 1 and 2 (Upchurch, Clark, Muldrow) | Bobby Lewis - Tossin' and turnin' (Adams, René) | Chris Kenner - I like it like that (Kenner, Toussaint) | Big Bob - Your line was busy (Clowney, Kornegay) | Bobby Freeman - Do you wanna dance (Freeman) | Professor Longhair - Baby let me hold your hand (Byrd) | Ronnie Hawkins - Forty days (Berry) Image: Collection of Martin Whitell.

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