Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr
Background information
BornMarch 27, 1904 or 1905
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died(1935-04-29)April 29, 1935 (aged 30–31)
Indianapolis, Indiana
GenresBlues
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Piano
  • vocals
Years active1920s–1935
Labels

Leroy Carr (March 27, 1904[1] or 1905 – April 29, 1935)[2] was an American blues singer, songwriter and pianist who developed a laid-back, crooning technique and whose popularity and style influenced such artists as Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. Music historian Elijah Wald has called him "the most influential male blues singer and songwriter of the first half of the 20th century".[3] He first became famous for "How Long, How Long Blues", his debut recording released by Vocalion Records in 1928.[4][5]

  1. ^ Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 152. ISBN 978-0313344244.
  2. ^ O'Neal, Jim. "Leroy Carr: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  3. ^ Wald, Elijah. "Leroy Carr – "The Bluesman Who Behaved Too Well"". Elijah Wald. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 52–53. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  5. ^ Giles Oakley (1997). The Devil's Music. Da Capo Press. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-306-80743-5.