James Booker facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids James Booker
Booker in 1978
Background information
Birth name	James Carroll Booker III
Also known as	Little Booker
Born	(1939-12-17)December 17, 1939 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	November 8, 1983 (aged 43) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Rhythm and blues, jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Keyboards, vocals
Years active	1954–1983

James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983) was an amazing keyboard player from New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. He was known for his special way of mixing rhythm and blues with jazz music. People called him "the Black Liberace" because he was so talented and had a unique style.

Life and Music of James Booker
Remembering James Booker
Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker
Discography
See also

Life and Music of James Booker

Early Years and Musical Talent

James Booker came from a family of Baptist ministers, and both his father and grandfather played the piano. He grew up mostly on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where his father was a church pastor.

When James was 10, his mother gave him a saxophone. He had wanted a trumpet, but he quickly became very good at playing the saxophone anyway. James was known as a child prodigy because he was so skilled at both the saxophone and piano.

He decided to focus on the piano. By age 12, he was playing difficult classical pieces by Bach, like his Inventions and Sinfonias, at a professional level. He also played the organ in his father's churches.

In 1949, when he was 9, James was hit by an ambulance. He said it dragged him for 30 feet and broke his leg in eight places. This accident left him with a permanent limp.

Growing Up in New Orleans

In his early teenage years, James moved back to New Orleans. He went to the Xavier University Preparatory School. He was an excellent student, especially in math, music, and Spanish. He graduated from high school in 1957.

James learned parts of his piano style from musicians like Tuts Washington and Edward Frank. Later, he was inspired by Professor Longhair and Ray Charles. He also mastered classical piano music by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Ernesto Lecuona. He often performed Lecuona's famous piece, "Malaguena."

His way of playing jazz and popular songs blended different styles. These included stride, blues, gospel, and Latin piano.

Starting His Music Career (1954-1976)

James Booker began recording music in 1954 with Imperial Records. His first songs were "Doin' the Hambone" and "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby." These were produced by Dave Bartholomew.

Booker often played piano for other famous musicians. He even played for Fats Domino sometimes. He also recorded with Leonard Chess and Johnny Vincent's Ace Records. He played with Huey Smith, Shirley & Lee, and Joe Tex. In the early 1960s, he performed on keyboard for Smiley Lewis and Lloyd Price.

In 1958, a famous classical pianist named Arthur Rubinstein played a concert in New Orleans. Eighteen-year-old Booker met him afterward and played some pieces. Rubinstein was amazed, saying he could never play like that at such a fast speed.

In 1960, Booker's song "Gonzo" became a hit. It reached number 43 on the U.S. Billboard chart and number 3 on the R&B chart.

In 1973, Booker recorded The Lost Paramount Tapes in Hollywood, California. He worked with members of the Dr. John band. The original recordings disappeared, but a copy was found in 1992 and released as a CD.

Booker also played organ in Dr. John's touring band in 1974. He appeared as a sideman on albums by Ringo Starr, John Mayall, The Doobie Brothers, Labelle, and Geoff Muldaur.

His performance at the 1975 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival led to a recording contract with Island Records. His album with Island, Junco Partner, was produced by Joe Boyd. In 1976, Booker briefly joined the Jerry Garcia Band.

European Success (1976-1978)

Many of Booker's concerts during his 1977 and 1978 European tours were recorded. Some were even filmed for TV. Several albums came out from these recordings. His album New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! won the Grand Prix du Disque award in Switzerland.

He also played at the Nice Jazz Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival in 1978. He recorded a session for the BBC during this time. Years later, a recording from this period called Let's Make A Better World! was released.

People in Europe understood Booker's music very well. They saw jazz as an important art form, and his classical training made him "concert-hall worthy" to European jazz fans.

Back in the U.S. (1978-1983)

From 1978 to 1982, Booker was the main pianist at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans. Recordings from this time were released as Spiders on the Keys and Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah. After his success in Europe, Booker had to get used to playing in smaller cafes and bars. This change was difficult for him because he knew how talented he was.

Booker's last studio recording, Classified, was made in 1982. It was finished in just four hours. By this time, Booker's health was not good.

In October 1983, filmmaker Jim Gabour recorded Booker's final concert performance. This footage was part of a series about the New Orleans music scene.

His Passing

James Booker passed away at age 43 on November 8, 1983. He was in a wheelchair in the emergency room at New Orleans' Charity Hospital, waiting for medical care.

Remembering James Booker

Many musicians and fans have honored James Booker since his passing. Harry Connick Jr., Henry Butler, and Dr. John have recorded songs that refer to Booker's music and style. Harry Connick Jr. called him "the greatest ever" and described his piano playing as "insanity" because it was so difficult and amazing.

Experts have studied Booker's playing style. Joshua Paxton, who helped create books of Booker's music, explained that Booker found new ways to play the piano. He could make the piano sound like an entire band. Paxton said Booker invented "an entirely new way of playing blues and roots-based music on the piano, and it was mind-blowingly brilliant and beautiful."

The famous New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint also called Booker a "genius." He said Booker's playing was "highly complex" but always had a great "groove." Toussaint noted that Booker's music had "extreme technical acrobatics" that made it extraordinary.

People also admired Booker's singing. New Orleans pianist Tom McDermott said he was "so moved" by Booker's vocals. He felt that Booker could show "desperation in a way that few singers could impart."

Patchwork: A Tribute to James Booker is a 2003 album featuring various pianists playing his songs. Manchester '77, released in 2007, is a live recording from a 1977 performance in Manchester, UK. In 2013, a special double-CD version of Classified, Booker's last studio album, was released.

James Booker was known by many nicknames, showing how important he was in New Orleans music. Some called him the Bayou Maharajah, the Piano Pope, the Ivory Emperor, or the Piano Prince of New Orleans. Booker himself even used the name "the Bronze Liberace."

Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker

A documentary film about James Booker, called Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker, was released in 2013. It was directed by Lily Keber. Keber raised money online to finish the film, gathering concert footage, home movies, photos, and unreleased audio from across the U.S. and Europe.

The film tells the story of Booker's life, from his childhood to his passing. All About Jazz magazine called Booker a "jazz genius" in its review of the documentary. The film became available for streaming and DVD release in 2016.

The film was shown at the Little Rock Film Festival in May 2013. The Oxford American magazine gave Keber the 2013 Best Southern Film Award, calling it "one of the most culturally important documentaries made in recent years."

Keber explained that when she first heard Booker's music, it was like a "different language" because it was so unique. The film's producer, Nathaniel Kohn, said that a lot of research went into the documentary. They talked to many people who knew Booker and found old photos, tapes, and videos.

The documentary was also the opening night film at the Southern Screen Film Festival in Lafayette, Louisiana, in November 2013.

Discography

Singles

1954, "Doin' the Hambone"/"Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby", Imperial Records
1958, "Open the Door/Teenage Rock", Ace Records: 547 (as Little Booker)
1960, "Gonzo", Peacock Records: 5-1697, FR1061

Studio Albums

Lost Paramount Tapes (DJM, 1974)
Junco Partner (Hannibal, 1976)
Classified (Demon, 1982)

Live Albums

The Piano Prince Of New Orleans (Black Sun Music, 1976)
Blues And Ragtime From New Orleans (Aves, 1976)
James Booker Live! (Gold, 1978)
New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! (Rounder, 1987)
Resurrection Of The Bayou Maharajah (Rounder, 1993)
Spiders On The Keys (Rounder, 1993)
Live At Montreux (Montreux Sounds, 1997)
United Our Thing Will Stand (Night Train International, 2000)
A Taste Of Honey (Night Train International, 2006)
Manchester '77 (Document, 2007)
Live From Belle Vue (Suncoast Music, 2015)
At Onkel Pö's Carnegie Hall Hamburg 1976 Vol. 1 (Jazz Line, 2019)
True - Live at Tipitina's - 04/25/78 (Tipitina's Records, 2021)

Compilation Albums

King Of New Orleans Keyboard Vol. 1-2 (JSP, 1984–85)
Mr. Mystery (Sundown, 1984)
Let's Make A Better World (Amiga, 1991)
The Lost Paramount Tapes (DJM, 1995)
More Than All The 45s (Night Train International, 1996)
New Orleans Keyboard King (Orbis, 1996)