Willie Lee Perryman, professionally known as Piano Red and later as Dr. Feelgood, was a pioneering American blues musician who made history by becoming the first to chart on the pop music charts. This self-taught pianist mastered the barrelhouse blues style, a loud and percussive genre perfectly suited for the rowdy atmosphere of bars and taverns. As the music industry transitioned from segregated "race music" to rhythm and blues, Perryman's careers as a performer and recording artist flourished, catering to a diverse audience of both white and black music lovers. Some music historians attribute Perryman's 1950 recording "Rocking With Red" with popularizing the term "rock and roll" in Atlanta, paving the way for a new era in music.
Perryman's unique playing style, characterized by his powerful left-hand rhythms and percussive right-hand melodies, combined with his infectious shout, earned him widespread acclaim over the course of three decades. His remarkable talent and dedication to his craft solidified his position as a blues legend, leaving an indelible mark on the music world.
