Edward Riley Boyd[1][nb 1] (November 25, 1914 – July 13, 1994)[3] was an American blues pianist, singer and songwriter, best known for his recordings in the early 1950s, including the number one R&B chart hit "Five Long Years".

[3] Boyd moved to the Beale Street district of Memphis, Tennessee, in 1936, where he played with his group, the Dixie Rhythm Boys.

Boyd had two further hits for Chess in 1953, "24 Hours" and "Third Degree" (co-written by Willie Dixon), both of which reached number three on the R&B chart.

Unhappy with the racial discrimination faced in the United States, Boyd moved to Belgium,[3] where he recorded with the Dutch band Cuby and the Blizzards.

[5] A few months later, Eric Clapton's chart-topping blues album From the Cradle, which includes interpretations of Boyd's "Five Long Years" and "Third Degree", was released.