| "Tipitina" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Professor Longhair | |
| B-side | "In The Night" |
| Released | 1953 |
| Recorded | 1953 |
| Genre | New Orleans blues |
| Length | 2:15 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Songwriter(s) | Roy Byrd |
"Tipitina" is a song written and made famous by Professor Longhair. The song has been widely covered and the Professor Longhair version was recorded in 1953 for Atlantic Records. "Tipitina" was first released in 1953. A previously unreleased alternate take (also recorded in 1953) was released on the album New Orleans Piano in 1972. Although the nature of his contributions are unknown, recording engineer Cosimo Matassa is listed as the song's co-writer along with Roy Byrd, Professor Longhair's legal name.[1]
The song, which is considered a New Orleans music standard, was added to the US National Recording Registry in 2011 because of its cultural significance. The subject of "Tipitina" is unknown. According to an interview and a recording by Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) played at the WWOZ Piano Night concert in 2020, Tipitina was a type of or name of a bird. Rebennack said he had never heard of that before or since. The New Orleans music venue, Tipitina's, was named for the song,[2] and Tipitina's Foundation bears the Tipitina name.
- ^ "BMI Repertoire: Tipitina (BMI Work #1519693)". BMI Repertoire. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ Berry, Jason (April 28, 2022). "New Orleans Legend Tipitina's Is Back—With Vintage Records". The Daily Beast. Retrieved December 23, 2022.