Eddie Boyd was a distinguished American blues pianist, vocalist, and songwriter whose influence on the genre spanned several decades. Born on November 25, 1914, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Boyd grew up entrenched in the fertile blues culture of the Mississippi Delta. He honed his craft throughout the 1930s and 1940s, eventually moving to Chicago, which was a hotspot for the burgeoning electric blues scene. It was here that Boyd's career truly flourished as he worked with a plethora of legendary blues artists.

Throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s, Eddie Boyd scored several R&B hits, including the iconic "Five Long Years" in 1952, which became a blues standard. In the latter part of his career, Boyd found a warm welcome in Europe, particularly during a time when American blues artists were revered overseas. He settled in Finland in the early 1970s after extensive tours across the continent, and continued to perform and record until his death. Eddie Boyd's mastery of the keyboard and his emotive vocal style have taken their rightful place in the annals of blues history. His work has been preserved on numerous recordings, including the celebrated "7936 South Rhodes," which was re-mastered and re-issued in 2005, and "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions," underscoring his lasting legacy as a true bluesman. Eddie Boyd passed away on July 13, 1994, leaving behind a rich musical legacy that continues to inspire blues musicians and aficionados alike.