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| | Documentary Arts, Inc. (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-05) |
 | | When Lavada Durst sits at the piano, he likes to “tickle the keys.” As he starts to play, his face lights up and the music rambles out, a kind of talking blues that is at once traditional and personal, improvised to meet the emotions of the moment at hand. |
 | | “Robert was a master of barrelhouse blues who played that Sugar Land (Texas) style of fast piano,” Durst says, “combing blues with ragtime and stride.” From Shaw (Arhoolie CD 377), Durst learned the rudiments of what is now referred to as the Texas barrelhouse piano style. |
 | | On the air, he used the call name “Dr. Hepcat,” and during his show, which featured primarily rhythm and blues and jazz, he used to jive talk to pique the interests of his listeners in making introductions to records, public service announcements, and commercials. |
| www.docarts.com /audio/dr_hepcat.html (1009 words) |
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