James Booker, 1939-1983 — "Piano Prince" of New Orleans

JAMES BOOKER cut a broad swath. As a piano-playing fool, he had no equal in New Orleans — which is somewhat like saying there wasn't anyone in this world able to match his flights of pianistic passion. And as a personality, well, whether strolling the French Quarter with his cane and eyepatch or spinning out a dizzying arabesque of soulful beauty at the Maple Leaf Bar uptown, the slight but flamboyant Booker exuded an aura of hard-won dignity crossed with desperate charm.