James Booker

James Booker was an extraordinary musician and performer. He was born in New Orleans in 1939, the son of a Baptist minister. His mother gave him a saxophone when he was young, but even as a young boy, Booker’s first love was the piano. He played the organ in church during his father’s services and listened to every style of piano-playing. He had a gift for memorising what he had heard, and he soon mastered Classical pieces, Jazz tunes and many other styles including Blues and Gospel. He learned about performance from Errol Garner and Liberace.

James Booker at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1978

Photo: Lionel Decoster (Wikimedia Commons)

His first recordings were issued in 1954 on Imperial Records, produced by Dave Bartholomew: “Doin’ the Hambone” and “Thinkin’ ‘Bout My Baby”. He was offered session work with Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, and Lloyd Price, on the strength of these two tracks. But Dave Bartholomew wasn’t the only one impressed by Booker’s piano skills. In 1958 he was introduced to the famous concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein, who listened to Booker play several pieces and declared: “I could never play that… never at that tempo”.

He released a single, an organ instrumental called “Gonzo” on Peacock Records, that did well nationally, reaching number three on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and number forty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Booker then enrolled at a local university to study music, ready to embark on what could have been a fantastic career. Unfortunately, he began using illegal drugs and had to serve a short term in Angola Prison in 1970, during which he lost his left eye following an attack on him. On his release from prison, Booker started working again as session man, contributing to albums by Ringo Starr, John Mayall, Labelle, Maria Muldaur, and the Doobie Brothers. That’s quite an eclectic mix, a reflection of James Booker’s versatility and interest in music of all kinds. In 1974 he moved nearer his roots, when he joined Dr. John’s Bonnaroo touring band. Then, in 1975, an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival led to a recording contract with Island Records and a chance to work with Joe Boyd as producer. The resulting album “Junco Partner” suggested that success might be coming closer, but there were no more recordings and Booker moved on.

After a brief spell with the Jerry Garcia Band, James Booker embarked on a series of concerts in Europe. His performances went down well, and several live recordings were issued, including “New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live!”, which was recorded at the concert in Zurich. However, on his return to the USA, he found himself playing as the resident pianist at the Maple Leaf Bar in the Carrollton area of New Orleans. For a pianist of his ability, it was quite a come down. He made one more album, “Classified”, in 1982, before his health deteriorated. He died at the age of forty-three in 1983.

Dr. John famously described him as “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced”. Forget the adjectives! James Booker was unique. He could play anything (and often did). He arrived at one outdoor festival stage in a Rolls Royce he had hired. He dressed in flamboyant clothes. He called himself the “Piano Prince of New Orleans”. But he could really play!