Buddy Lucas

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Alonzo W. "Buddy" Lucas (born August 16, 1914 in Pritchard (Alabama) ; † March 18, 1983 in Stamford , Connecticut ) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues musician ( harmonica , tenor saxophone , vocals ), Songwriter and band leader .

Live and act

Lucas grew up in Stamford and began playing the clarinet when he was eleven; at the age of 19 he switched to the saxophone and played in local nightclubs and pubs. In the late 1940s he moved to New York City, where he met the drummer Herman Bradley , who gave him gigs and first recording opportunities, including a. also made an appearance on Alan Freed's radio show. He played in 1950 with Wynonie Harris , with whom he recorded for King Records , and released a number of singles on the R&B label Jubilee in the early 1950s, such as "Drive Daddy Drive", "Hustlin 'Family Blues / I'll Never." Smile Again ”and with The Orioles “ Shrimp Boats / Trust in Me ”. He also worked as a studio musician, u. a. for recordings such as “ Why Do Fools Fall in Love ” by The Teenagers (1956) and “Tears on My Pillow” by Little Anthony & the Imperials (1958) as well as for productions by the Groove, Gone, Jubilee, Tru-Sound, Lawn and labels Mohawk .

In the second half of the 1950s, Buddy Lucas released several cover versions of well-known rock 'n' roll hits for the budget label Bell Records, such as Hound Dog , Blueberry Hill , Don't Be Cruel , When My Dreamboat Comes Home, Priscilla, Honky Tonk and Searchin ' . In 1958 he was entitled 7-11 , a rock version of Pérez Prados Mambo No. 5 at # 30 on the Billboard Popcharts.

Lucas wrote the song Steamboat , with which The Drifters were successful. In 1956 he accompanied the singer Big Maybelle on Savoy Records . His contribution to these recordings appeared under the band names Buddy Lucas & His Band of Tomorrow, The Gone All Stars and Buddy Lucas & His Shouters , occasionally as Big Buddy Lucas . In the 1960s he also worked with jazz musicians such as Albert Ayler ( New Grass ) and Yusef Lateef ( Atlantic Blue ). In the field of jazz and R&B, he was involved in 178 recording sessions between 1950 and 1958. a. with Hal Singer , Annie Laurie , Little Willie John , Jimmy Scott , Bill Doggett , Seldon Powell , King Curtis , Solomon Burke , LaVern Baker , Jimmy Smith , Clark Terry , Aretha Franklin , Illinois Jacquet , Jack McDuff , Johnny Hodges , Nina Simone , Screamin 'Jay Hawkins , Bernard Purdie , Cleanhead Vinson , Big Joe Turner , Count Basie , George Benson ( Harlem Underground´ ), Hammond Smith , Jimmy Witherspoon , Lou Donaldson and Thad Jones .

From the end of the 1960s he shifted his musician activities to productions for television and radio advertising. From 1972 he played for two years in the band of the Broadway musical Purlie before diabetes ended his career. After his return to Stamford he performed with Herman Bradley at Club Catch 22 .

Discographic notes

  • Shake, rock, rattle and roll
  • Honkin 'Sax (RCA Camden, 1967)
  • Discotheque A Go-Go (Hoctor, 1965)
  • 50 Fabulous Harmonica Favorites (ca.1965)
  • Hoppin 'Bop With Buddy Lucas (ed. 2004)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/buddy_lucas.htm
  2. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed September 21, 2014)
personal data
SURNAME Lucas, buddy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lucas, Alonzo W. (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz and rhythm & blues musician (harmonica, tenor saxophone, vocals, songwriter and band leader)
DATE OF BIRTH August 16, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH Pritchard, Alabama
DATE OF DEATH March 18, 1983
Place of death Stamford , Connecticut