James Booker, “The Piano Prince of New Orleans,” died 20 years ago this Saturday in a hospital waiting room after no one noticed him for more than half an hour.
Booker was an important influence to some of the best of today’s musicians, but in the year that many students were born, he may have died unnecessarily, because he did not have proper health care.
This Sunday, at 7:30 p.m. the film essay “Sugar B.” chronicling Booker’s life and music is sceduled to be shown. It will be followed by a concert featuring major New Orleans musicians who have been influenced by his brilliance.
The concert is the CD release celebration for the STR Digital release “Patchwork: a Tribute to James Booker.”
All of the proceeds from the concert and the CD go to benefit the Musicians’ Clinic, a not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive health care to needy musicians.
The concert will feature premier New Orleans’ pianists Henry Butler, Joe Krown, Tom McDermott, Larry Sieberth, Josh Paxton, as well as vocalist Leigh Harris.
Seen by some as one of the most gifted musical geniuses in the history of New Orleans, Booker may also have been one of the most troubled and idiosyncratic.
Constantly crossing the boundaries between genius and madness, Booker became heavily involved with drugs at an early age, had a wild stage demeanor, often missed gigs and was known by some almost as much for his unpredictable behavior as for his virtuoso playing and soulful singing.
But there were those who felt his playing and singing to be so good that they often looked past his excesses and made the distinction between his genius and his madness.
His fingers were said to jump around the keyboard like spiders or butterflies, and his voice soared with passion.
He has been said to have influenced everyone from Harry Connick Jr. to Dr. John, even taking Connick Jr. under his wing when he noticed the youngster’s talent.
Sadly, though, madness overtook Booker and he died at age 43.
Sanford Hinderlie, associate professor of music, the CD’s producer and organizer of the concert, says he is an avid Booker fan and also appears on the CD.
Hinderlie’s wife, Helma Kaldewey, whom he met through the project, is also a huge Booker fan and she co-produced the film to be shown on Sunday.
Kaldeway also plans on writing an extensive biography on Booker in the near future.
The CD was recorded at the Hinderlies’ house over the past few months to honor the way that Booker’s music has affected artists around New Orleans and as a benefit to needy musicians who could share the same fate as Booker.
Many music business students at Loyola have assisted professor Hinderlie throughout the final stages of the project with the marketing and the publishing for the CD and the concert, from acquiring the licenses to all of the songs to seeking sponsors to pay the musicians.
Jazz pianist Henry Butler (seated) will be one of the artists featured in Sunday´s concert. Pictured with him is assocaite professor of music Sanford Hinderlie. (Greg Heaney)
