Lyrics | Artists | James Booker

James Booker

A singular African-American jazz pianist whose peripatetic life and flamboyant personality made him a hero to fellow musicians, James Booker was born December 17, 1939 in the musically rich city of New Orleans, Louisiana. He learned the piano early and played for his Baptist minister father’s congregations. He developed classical chops, and his personal style, an amalgamation of blues, Latin, gospel and other genres, helped land him his first recording contract before he was 16-years-old. He had his first chart success with the 1960 single “Gonzo”, a number 3 R&B hit. His outsize...