Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr was an American blues singer, songwriter and pianist who developed a laidback, crooning technique and whose popularity and style influenced such artists as Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. He first became famous for How Long, How Long Blues on Vocalion Records in 1928.

Carr was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Although his recording career was cut short by an early death, Carr left behind a large body of work. Some of his most famous songs include Blues Before Sunrise , Midnight Hour Blues , and Hurry Down Sunshine . He had a longtime partnership with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell. His light bluesy piano combined with Blackwells melodic jazz guitar worked to attract a sophisticated black audience. Carrs vocal style moved blues singing toward an urban sophistication, influencing such singers as TBone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ray Charles among others.

Source: Wikipedia