Eddie Bo, who died on 18 March , 2009, aged 78, was one of New Orleans’ most prolific artists.

The singer and pianist was outperformed only by Fats Domino in terms of productivity and longevity in his field - releasing more single records than anyone else in New Orleans, apart from Fats.

He dabbled in various styles throughout his longer career, including 1950s rhythm & blues, ‘60s soul and early funk, and later returning to his roots in big band and jazz.

Edwin Joseph Bocage was born on 20 September, 1930 and raised in New Orleans where he learnt carpentry from his father and the piano from his mother.

After a stint in the army, he studied music and was influenced by classical pianists as well as bebop musicians. In the 1940s he began performing in jazz bars as Spider Bocage.

In the 1950s he started playing R&B and was signed to Ace Records, releasing his debut record in 1955.

He had his first hit in 1961 with Check Mr Popeye which became one of the biggest dance floor hits of the time. He also wrote the hits Slippin’ and Slidin’ for Little Richard, My Dearest Darling for Etta James and In The Same Old Way for Tommy Ridgley.

Always moving with the times, he reinvented himself as a soul artist to have a hit with Pass The Hatchet under the moniker Roger and the Gypsies in the mid-60s before enjoying more success in the funk style at the end of the decade with Hook and Sling and Check Your Bucket.

He also worked for tens of record labels and artists, usually as a producer but at one stage he even used his carpentry skills to help build the studio at Ric Records. He also had his own label, Bo-Sound.

In the 1980s he launched a career comeback playing with popular jazz and bebop acts, including the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Willy DeVille. He revived his label and opened a New Orleans venue, Check Your Bucket.

The building and his offices were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Bo carried out much of the repair work himself. He continued to record and perform at blues and jazz festivals right up until his death from a sudden heart attack.