Roosevelt Sykes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roosevelt Sykes
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Honeydripper |
| Born | January 31, 1906 Elmar, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 1983 (aged 77) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres | Blues, boogie-woogie |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1921–1983 |
Roosevelt Sykes (born January 31, 1906, died July 17, 1983) was an American blues musician. Many people knew him as "the Honeydripper." He was famous for his piano playing and singing.
Contents
Roosevelt Sykes's Music Journey
Early Life and Music
Roosevelt Sykes was born in Elmar, Arkansas. His father was also a musician. Sykes called his hometown "just a little old sawmill town." By 1909, his family lived in St. Louis. He often visited his grandfather's farm near West Helena.
He started playing the church organ when he was about ten. He practiced on his grandfather's organ. Sykes loved the sound of the blues. He wanted to play music like he sang.
When he was 15, Sykes began traveling. He played piano in a style called "barrelhouse blues." In 1925, he met Leothus "Lee" Green. Green was an older piano player. He taught Sykes a lot about music. They played together in Louisiana and Mississippi. Sykes would often say, "I just been pickin' a little cotton, and pickin' a little piano."
Green taught him a special piano style. This style used different rhythms for the bass and treble parts. It became the basis for Sykes's famous song, "44 Blues." Sykes later returned to St. Louis, Missouri. There, he met St. Louis Jimmy Oden, another blues musician.
Becoming "The Honeydripper"
Sykes found work at a place called Katy Red's. He was paid a dollar a night, plus room and board. In 1929, a talent scout named Jesse Johnson discovered him. Johnson sent Sykes to New York City to record music.
His first song, "44 Blues," became a huge hit. It was his signature song. Sykes said, "The first number I made was a hit, '44 Blues,' and every record I made was a star ever since."
Sykes got his nickname "the Honeydripper" later in 1929. He was playing for singer Edith Johnson. She recorded a song called "Honeydripper Blues." Johnson said she gave him the name because he was kind and easygoing. Sykes himself said the name came from his childhood. He said girls used to like being around him, so his friends called him "Honey."
Sykes recorded for many different music labels. He used other names like "Easy Papa Johnson" and "Dobby Bragg." He also became good friends with singer Charlie "Specks" McFadden.
Moving to Chicago
Sykes and St. Louis Jimmy Oden moved to Chicago. Sykes became very famous after signing with Decca Records in 1934. In 1936, he recorded "Driving Wheel Blues." He was a popular pianist for other musicians' recordings. Sykes and Oden remained friends and played music together for many years.
In 1943, Sykes started his own band, The Honeydrippers. The band often had many musicians, including horn players. After World War II, music styles changed. Sykes recorded for smaller labels. By the mid-1950s, his recording chances became less frequent.
Later Years
In 1954, Sykes moved to New Orleans. This was when electric blues became popular in Chicago. He recorded some songs for Imperial Records in 1955.
He moved back to Chicago in 1960. At this time, people became interested in blues music again. Sykes toured Europe and played at blues festivals in the United States. In the late 1960s, he moved back to New Orleans. He played in clubs there, like the Court of Two Sisters.
When he recorded in the 1960s, it was for labels like Delmark and Folkways. These labels wanted to record the history of blues music. Roosevelt Sykes lived his last years in New Orleans. He passed away from a heart attack on July 17, 1983. He was buried in an unmarked grave.
His Unique Piano Style
Sykes said he decided to become a bluesman after hearing Red-Eye Jesse Bell. He also learned from other St. Louis musicians. His mentor, "Pork Chop" Lee Green, taught him how to play different rhythms with each hand.
Sykes had a strong voice and a powerful piano style. His left hand often played simple, repeated notes to keep the beat. His right hand played very complex rhythms. His music usually used only three basic blues chords. His piano playing was more like a blues guitarist than other piano players of his time.
He was great at fast boogie-woogie songs. But he truly shined on slow and medium-paced blues. His left hand kept a steady beat. His right hand moved all over the keyboard. He used the piano as the main instrument, not just for rhythm. This style worked well whether he played alone or with a big band.
As he got older, Sykes wrote more complex song lyrics. He sometimes added pop music ideas to his words. Some of his later blues songs had an 8-bar pattern, like pop or gospel music. This was different from his earlier 12-bar style. Sykes could easily switch between country boogie-woogie and his city blues piano style. He was a very skilled blues player. He would add extra notes or change chords when he felt it was right.
Sykes had a special way of singing. He would sing a little bit ahead of his piano playing. This made his singing lines feel very energetic and rhythmic.
Legacy
Roosevelt Sykes had a very long career. He played music before and after World War II. He created many important blues songs, such as "44 Blues," "Driving Wheel," and "Night Time Is the Right Time."
In 1999, he was honored by being added to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Selected Discography
- The Return of Roosevelt Sykes (Bluesville, 1960)
- The Honeydripper (Bluesville, 1961)
- Blues (Folkways, 1961) with Memphis Slim
- Face to Face with the Blues (Columbia, 1961)
- The Honeydripper: Roosevelt Sykes Plays and Sings the Blues (Columbia, 1962)
- Roosevelt Sykes Sings the Blues (Crown, 1963)
- Hard Drivin' Blues (Delmark, 1964) with Homesick James
- Roosevelt Sykes in Europe (Delmark, 1966 [1969])
- The Meek Roosevelt Sykes (Carson, 1969; Jewel, 1973)
- Chicago Blues Festival (Black & Blue, 1970) with Homesick James
- Feel Like Blowing My Horn (Delmark, 1970 [1973])
- The Honeydripper's Duke's Mixture (Barclay, 1971)
- Music Is My Business (Blue Labor, 1975 [1977])
- The Original Honeydripper (Blind Pig, 1977)
- Boot That Thing 1929–1941 (Acrobat ADDCD-3019 [2CD], 2008)
