The spirit of legendary New Orleans rhythm and blues musician Professor Longhair was alive in Wilson Library Tuesday, as his music was embodied by another generation of musicians.
Jojo Hermann and Alfred “Uganda” Roberts were reunited to celebrate the University’s Southern Folklife Collection. The pair played a concert last year at the University.
“The Southern Folklife Collection is an archival resource dedicated to collecting, preserving and disseminating traditional and vernacular music, art and culture related to the American South,” said Steve Weiss, the head of the collection.
Roberts grew up in New Orleans and has been playing music professionally since he was about 17. He played for seven years with Professor Longhair, who died in 1980.
“I began playing the bongo drums on the side of Bourbon Street and the girls would do the Cha-Cha-Cha,” Roberts said.
“I was known as ‘Jamaica Joe’ in the calypso clubs.”
While Roberts grew up living in the center of New Orleans, New York City native Hermann learned to play New Orleans-style music a different way.
“I learned to play off those records when I was young, records that Alfred and the professor played on,” Hermann said.
“So to play with Alfred is like playing with those records when I was young, and nobody plays like Alfred can.”
Hermann is currently pianist for Widespread Panic, a southern rock band.
“The first time Roberts and Hermann met was last year when we brought them together last year,” said William Ferris, American history professor at UNC.
“It was an electrifying moment. They played together as if they had already been rehearsing or even as if they had always played together forever.”
Lori Saddler, project coordinator for the vice chancellor of research and economics jumped out of her seat and began to dance to the sensational music.
“I have been following Widespread Panic for over 10 years and I really enjoy Uganda’s music as well,” Saddler said.
“I really enjoyed myself and danced the entire time.”
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