The Honeydripper: The Roosevelt Sykes Story The good time, exuberant piano blues of Roosevelt Sykes highlighted a remarkable career that lasted nearly fifty years. Sykes' legacy is monumental influencing scores of piano players and creating classics like "44 Blues," "Driving Wheel," and "Night Time Is the Right Time" which have become blues standards. Sykes was born in 1906 in Elmer, Arkansas and began playing the clubs around Helena at a young age. At 15 he hit the road and began playing the blues clubs around St. Louis. It was here that Sykes hooked up with Okeh Records in June of 1929 laying down six sides including the immortal "44 Blues" a song he learned from playing partner Lee Green. Sykes records apparently did well as he was quickly back in the studio and the following year was signed to four different labels under four different names (he was variously billed as Dobby Bragg, Willie Kelly, and Easy Papa Johnson). In the 30's Sykes made St. Louis his permanent home playing the local clubs as a solo artist and branching out to play in Chicago, Memphis and other cities. Sykes worked with many St. Louis artists including St. Louis Jimmy, Henry Townsend, Henry Brown and Mary Johnson among others. Sykes relocated to Chicago in the early 40's and quickly formed his own group playing the local clubs. During this period he cut sides for Bluebird, Specialty and Bullet. He scored R&B hits in 1945 with covers of Cecil Gant's "I Wonder" and Joe Liggin's "the Honeydripper" and also scored with his own composition "Sunny Road." Between 1951-53 he cut sides for United Records. In 1954 Sykes moved his home base to New Orleans continuing his career as a recording artist and playing the local clubs. Sykes cut dates for Imperial Records in 1955 and in the 60's cut a slew of records for labels like Bluesville, Folkways, Crown, and Delmark. During this period he also toured Europe and even appeared in a few European film documentaries Sykes continued a full slate of touring and recording through the '70s and early '80s. Although his dexterity had suffered somewhat, Sykes remained a convincing pianist to the very end of his career. He died in 1984. Essential Listening
Nasty But It's Clean (Catfish): First rate collection of Syke's early sides. 21 tracks including classics like "44 Blues" and "The Honeydripper." Honey Dripper, Vol.1: 1934-1942 (Epm Musique): Another fine collection of Syke's early sides. Some duplication with the above release.
Raining In My Heart (Delmark):Great sides collecting all the sides Sykes cut for the United label between 1951-53. The Return Of Roosevelt Sykes (Bluesville): Fine 1960 date featuring remakes of "Drivin' Wheel" and "Night Time Is The Right Time." Honeydripper (Prestige): Excellent 1961 outing with Sykes melding his down-home blues with elements of funk and R&B.
The Meek Roosevelt Sykes
(Jewel): Great 60's record Sykes cut for the
Jewel label. Includes humorous gems like "Dangerous
Man" and "Saftey Pin."
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