Luckey Roberts
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Charles Luckeyeth Roberts, better known as Luckey Roberts (7 August 1887 – 5 February 1968) was a composer and pianist who worked in the jazz, ragtime, and blues styles.
Luckey Roberts was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was playing piano and acting professionally with traveling African American minstrel shows in his childhood. He settled in New York City about 1910 and became one of the leading pianists in Harlem, and started publishing some of his original rags.
Roberts toured France and the UK with James Reese Europe during World War I, then returned to New York where he wrote music for various shows and recorded piano rolls.
With James P. Johnson, Roberts developed the stride piano style of playing about 1919.
Robert's reach on the keyboard was unusually large (he could reach a fourteenth), leading to a rumor that he had the webbing between his fingers surgically cut, which those who knew him and saw him play live denounce as false; Roberts simply had naturally large hands with wide finger spread.
Luckey Roberts noted compositions include Junk Man Rag, Moonlight Cocktail, Pork and Beans, and Railroad Blues.
An astute businessman, Roberts became a millionaire twice through real estate dealings. He died in New York City.
Categories: Articles lacking sources from October 2006 | All articles lacking sources | African American musicians | American composers | American jazz musicians | American pianists | Blackface minstrel performers | Blues musicians | Jazz composers | Jazz pianists | People from Philadelphia | Ragtime composers | 1887 births | 1968 deaths
