Roosevelt Sykes was born 31st January, 1906, Elmar, Arkansas and grew up near Helena. At the age of fifteen he was around on the road playing barrel-house piano, travelling around to various sawmills and camps along the Mississippi River. By 1929, he was spotted by a talent scout and sent to New York to record for ‘Okeh Records’ with his first release being ’44 Blues’. He recorded with various labels over the years, spending some time in Chicago before moving to New Orleans as the electric blues began taking foot in Chicago. He lived out his remaining life in New Orleans, finally passing from a heart attack on 17th July, 1983.
He recorded with various labels over the years, spending some time in Chicago before moving to New Orleans as the electric blues began taking foot in Chicago. He lived out his remaining life in New Orleans, finally passing from a heart attack on 17th July, 1983.
He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1999.
| Roosevelt Sykes – The Return Of Roosevelt Sykes | 1960 |
| Drivin’ Wheel Long, Lonesome Night Set The Meat Outdoors Coming Home Stompin’ The Boogie Number Nine | Calcutta Selfish Woman Hangover Night Time Is The Right Time Runnin’ The Boogie Hey Big Momma |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Blues | 1961 |
| Sweet Old Chicago Don’t Care Blues 47th Street Jive Memphis Slim Rock 44 Blues Security Blues R. S. Stomp | Ran The Blues Out Of My Window All My Money’s Gone Women In Elaine Arkansas The Mistaken Life The Sweet Root Man The Thing Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone |
| Roosevelt Sykes – The Honeydripper | 1961 |
| Miss Ida B. Mislead Mother Yes Lawd I Hate To Be Alone Jailbait | Lonely Day Satellite Baby Pocketful Of Money She Ain’t For Nobody |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Face To Face With The Blues | 1961 |
| Monte Carlo Blues Pretty Woman Careless Love Night Time Is The Right Time Blues For Big Sid Roll On | The Train Is Coming Piano Solo Pappa Low On The Sunny Side Of The Street Ice Cream Freezer |
| Roosevelt Sykes – The Honeydripper – Plays And Sings The Blues | 1961 |
| Sweet Old Chicago Mr. Sykes Blues Let It Rock Mistakes In Life So Tired Hot Nuts | Gulf Port Boogie Unlucky Thirteen Blues Three Handed Woman Littel And Low Green Onion Top How Long How Long Blues |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Sings The Blues | 1963 |
| Slave For Your Love Gone With The Wind Wild Side Out On A Limb Honey Child | Never Loved Like This Before Last Chance Casual Friend Your Will Is Mine Hupe Dupe Do |
| Sykes / Big Joe Williams / Lonnie Johnson/ Victoria Spivey – Three Kings And The Queen | 1964 |
| This Is A New World Mr. Johnson’s Guitar Talks Sitting On Top Of The World All You Men Lake Charles Stomp Strange Girl Blues Stick By Me Baby Turpentine | Mommie And Daddy Wichita Brown Skin Stop Talking No Partnership Woman Blues For Robert Calvin No. 2 Four Shots Of Gin Thirteen Hours |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Hard Drivin’ Blues | 1964 |
| Red-Eye Jesse Bell I Like What You Do We Gotta Move North Gulfport Boogie Watch Your Step Ho! Ho! Ho! | Living The Right Life New Fire Detective Blues Run This Boogie Slidell Blues Mistake In Life She’s Got Me Straddle A Log |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Roosevelt Sykes In Europe | 1969 |
| Big Ben Boot That Thing Springfield Blues Henry Ford Blues I’m A Dangerous Man True Thing | You Understand The Last Laugh Gold Mine 44 Blues Sugar Cup |
| Roosevelt Sykes / Homesick James – Chicago Blues Festival 1970 | 1970 |
| Roosevelt Sykes : Miss Durty Gurty Blues Put Up Or Shut Up Domestic Nurse Blues Thanks But No Thanks Mighty Men | Homesick James : I Believe My Baby’s Gone I’ve Got To Move Can’t Do It Homesick’s Rock That’s All Right For You Shake Your Money Maker |
| Roosevelt Sykes – The Honeydripper’s Duke’s Mixture | 1971 |
| Going Down Slow Ice Cream Freezer Lost My Boogie Sweet Georgia Brown St James Infirmary | Honeysuckle Rose Basin Street Blues Rock Me A Woman Is In Demand Dirty Mother For You |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Dirty Double Mother | 1972 |
| Double Dirty Mother Persimmon Pie I Wanna Love Look A Here Jookin’ In New Orleans May Be A Scandal | Double Breasted Woman Dooky Chase Boogie Life Is A Puzzle .44 Rifle Blues Watch’l Go Getter |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Feel Like Blowing My Horn | 1973 |
| Feel Like Blowing My Horn My Hamstring’s Poppin’ I’m A Nut Blue Will Prank With Your Soul Sykes Gumboogie | Rock-A-Bye Birdie Moving Blues All Days Are Good Eagle-Rock Me, Baby Jubilee Time |
| Roosevelt Sykes – The Meek Roosevelt Sykes | 1973 |
| Shaking The Boogie Too Smart Too Soon Springfield Blues Honeysuckle Blues Tall Heavy Mama I Am In Love With A Lover | New Orleans Jump Safety Pin Blues Man Is In Trouble Dangerous Man Roosevelt’s Mood Blue Bass |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Music Is My Business | 1974 |
| Music Is My Business Mistake In Life New York Boogie Dream Woman Stop Stoppin’ Me Look Out For Yourself Some Right, Some Wrong Take Time Out | Hot Pants A Good Woman Just A Smile Leavin’ Chicago Funky Side Last Chance Who’s That Pretty Woman How Long |
| Roosevelt Sykes – The Original Honeydripper | 1978 |
| Cow Cow Blues Drivin’ Wheel What I Say Viper’s Drag Early Morning Blues Dirty Mother For You I’m A Nut | Running The Boogie Honeysuckle Rose Too Smart Too Soon Sweet Home Chicago I Like What You Did Please Don’t Talk About Me |
| Roosevelt Sykes – Live At Webster College, St. Louis | 1988 |
| On The Sunny Side Of The Street “44” Blues Night Time Is The Right Time Honeysuckle Rose Drivin’ Wheel My Baby’s Gone | Goin’ Down Slow Runnin’ The Boogie St. James Infirmary Blues Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie On The Sunny Side Of The Street |
| Roosevelt Sykes – New Orleans | |
| Rock Bottom Cheap Alex Movie Star Kid Back Rider Yours Strong Love Boot That Thing Nathalie’s Boogie | Sweet Love Beale Street Boogie Darling, I Miss You So Tribute to Memphis Slim Thanks, But No Thanks |