Complex sentence: Sykes grew up near Helena, Arkansas but at age 15, began playing piano with a barrelhouse style of blues in various places, until ending up in the St. Louis, Missouri area where he met St. Louis Jimmy Oden.
Split into simpler sentences: Sykes grew up near Helena, Arkansas but at age 15, went on the road playing piano with a barrelhouse style of blues. His wanderings eventually brought him to St. Louis, Missouri area where he met St. Louis Jimmy Oden.