Dennis Binder (Rosedale, Mississippi, November 18, 1928) is an American rhythm & blues pianist and singer.

Dennis Binder grew up first singing gospel music and soon learned to play piano on his own. He moved from rural Delta juke joints to the bright lights of Chicago where he got his first recording break at Chicago’s Chess Records in the early 1950’s. Binder was an early vocalist and arranger for Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm. Dennis "Longman" Binder who now resides in Lawton, OK still plays a killer piano mixing blues, rock n’ roll and country and western. In 2006 Binder performed at the Ponderosa Stomp and released “Everybody Needs A Miracle” on Earwig. Previously, Dennis Binder also recorded for Sun Records, Modern, Crown United, Delmark and Ace Records. He was right there in the midst of it all with Ike Turner, Eddie Benston, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker, Jr. Wells, and A.C. Reed. Dennis Binder is truly pioneer of early rock and blues.

He took an interest in music very early in life, singing with his mother and two aunts in their Baptist Church. After church, the children and their parents attended prayer meetings or revivals, and often went to a juke joint or social gathering where music was central. Although he is a self-taught musician, he had an early introduction to both the piano and the blues by a female impersonator named “Toots,” who sat Dennis on his knee while he played blues piano in the St. Louis style.

As a teenager, Dennis refined his technique and knowledge of music in Chicago. Determined to become a professional musician, he hung around Chess Records, and eventually recorded four songs for the label. In 1951 and 1953, Dennis recorded for Sun Records. In 1954 in Clarksdale, he played on recordings that Ike Turner set up for Modern Records and which were released under Ike’s name as leader, although Dennis was the featured vocalist and arranger. Other recording credits include tracks on United Records in Chicago, released in the 1990s compilation on Delmark Records, titled Long Man Blues. He also recorded at the Norman Petty Studios in Texas, featuring Buddy Holly and Tommy Allup, and in later years at Benson Studio in Oklahoma City.

While touring in 1956 with Earl Hooker, Junior Wells and A.C. Reed, Dennis stopped in Lawton, Oklahoma, which had an all-night entertainment scene due to the military presence at Fort Sill. He decided to make Lawton his home, and has resided there for fifty years. He worked as a bail bondsman and musician, recording and releasing numerous cds on his own label. In recent years, Dennis has played important festivals, concerts and clubs in the United States, Canada, Europe and Thailand. A friend introduced him in 2004 to Earwig Music Company President Michael Frank, which led to increased bookings and to Dennis signing a recording deal with Earwig, and the Fall 2006 cd release, Everybody Needs A Miracle. The album features Dennis’s unique piano stylings and his hybrid mix of blues, rock ‘n roll, country and western, and inspirational music, with a stellar Chicago quintet of backing musicians. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.