Erwin Helfer (born January 20, 1936) is an American boogie-woogie, blues, and jazz pianist. He was born and raised in Chicago. From 1960 to 2023 he recorded on various labels, including Cobra, Chess, Testament, Flying Fish, and The Sirens. He collaborated with blues pianist Jimmy Walker during the 1960s and 1970s and made two recordings with him.
He was mentored by William Russell, who was a jazz historian and founder of American Music Records.àIn Chicago, Russell introduced Erwin to Warren âÂÂBabyâ Dodds, Mahalia Jackson, âÂÂCrippleâ Clarence Lofton, and Estelle âÂÂMamaâ Yancey.
Helfer studied briefly at Tulane University. While living in New Orleans, he studied piano with Professor Manuel Manetta and became close friends with Billie and DeDe Pierce. He earned a bachelorâÂÂs degree from the American Conservatory of Music, and received a masterâÂÂs in music from Northeastern Illinois University.
In 1955, Helfer recorded Billie Pierce, Rufus Perryman (Speckled Red), Doug Suggs, and James âÂÂThe Batâ Robinson for âÂÂPrimitive Pianoâ on his own Tone Records. Helfer sold recordings of Speckled Red to Bob Koester, and RedâÂÂs record became KoesterâÂÂs first release for Delmar Records (later named Delmark).
He was colleagues and friends with Sunnyland Slim, Blind John Davis, and Little Brother Montgomery. He produced albums by Sunnyland, Davis, and others for Red Beans Records, which he co-founded with Peter Crawford.
Helfer made his first recording accompanying blues guitarist Big Joe Williams for Cobra in 1960. In 1964, he recorded an album of blues and boogie woogie duets with pianist Jimmy Walker, called âÂÂRough and Ready,â for Pete WeldingâÂÂs Testament Records.
He played harpsichord on Nick Gravenitesâ âÂÂDrunken Boatâ and âÂÂWhole Lotta Soulâ 45 rpm in 1965 and participated on the album âÂÂMoogie Woogieâ on Chess Records in 1970.
He recorded his second album with Jimmy Walker on Flying FishâÂÂs inaugural LP in 1974. In 1975, he recorded âÂÂBoogie Piano Chicago Styleâ for Big Bear Records in the UK. Four years later he made another recording on Flying Fish with a number of Chicago jazz and blues artists. He made three recordings on his own label Red Beans, including accompanying Estelle âÂÂMamaâ Yancey in 1983.
After making several recordings in Germany, he made ten recordings for The Sirens Records. His recording, âÂÂIâÂÂm Not Hungry But I Like To Eat â Blues!â was featured on NPRâÂÂs All Things Considered. This recording was also nominated for the Blues FoundationâÂÂs Comeback Artist of the Year award. He played on two piano compilations âÂÂHeavy Timbre â Chicago Boogie Pianoâ and âÂÂ8 Hands on 88 Keys â Chicago Blues Piano MastersâÂÂ. âÂÂCareless Loveâ and âÂÂCelebrate the Journeyâ were featured on NPRâÂÂs Fresh Air in January 2006 and March 2021 respectively.
In Kevin WhiteheadâÂÂs NPR review of âÂÂCelebrate the Journeyâ he said, âÂÂFor Erwin Helfer, vintage piano dialects are living traditions, not museum exhibits.âÂÂàWhitehead said, âÂÂThere arenâÂÂt many left who do what Helfer does with such unshowy authority⦠Erwin Helfer doesnâÂÂt carry his knowledge like a burden. He has fun with it ⦠.âÂÂ
Erwin taught amateurs and professional musicians how to play blues piano from his home, at various institutions like Columbia College, and at summer camp at the Augusta Heritage Center. ÃÂ
He is the author of Blues Piano and How To Play It, a book for intermediate and advanced pianists.
Helfer has a street, "Erwin Helfer Way", named after him in the city of Chicago.
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