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James Booker: Real genius

Geoffrey Himes, American Songwriter, November 2018

MANY NEW ORLEANS pianists are better known — Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Harry Con- nick Jr., Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and Art Neville — but those closest to the scene insist that James Booker was the greatest of them all. The tall, spindly, goateed singer-pianist with a star-emblazoned eye- patch gave lessons to Dr. John and Connick, played Domino's piano parts on some recordings, and toured in bands with Neville and Dr. John. He could do everything they could do, but none of them could do everything he could do.

Total word count of piece: 1243

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