Joe Lutcher

Joseph Woodman Lutcher (born December 23, 1919 in Lake Charles , Louisiana , † October 29, 2006 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American R&B singer, alto saxophonist and band leader who turned to gospel music in the late 1950s .

Life

Even as a child, Joe Lutcher played the saxophone in the family band with his father Isaac, his sister Nellie and his brother Isaac Jr. Joe followed his sister to Los Angeles , California in 1942 . While he was doing his military service in the US Navy between 1942 and 1945 , Nellie Lutcher started a successful career as a singer. At times Joe was the saxophonist in the Nat King Cole trio .

In 1947 Joe was discovered as the band leader of the "Society Cats" by Art Rupe , who had recently founded the gospel and blues label Specialty Records . The first record deal was up for grabs after just one recording session, as Joe didn't like the slow blues demanded by the label boss. From the two specialty releases, Rockin 'Boogie was an R&B hit at number 14 on the charts.

Through his sister and drummer Jesse Price , Lutcher came into contact with Dave Dexter , the A&R manager of Capitol Records , on whose "Capitol Jazz Series" label he soon released. He has also worked as a band leader for recordings of Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr. and the Mills Brothers . While his sister was very successful at Capitol, Joe changed labels again after only one of his own chart hit Shuffle Boogie at number 10 on the R&B charts.

At Modern Records , founded in 1949 , Joe Lutcher played with his own band, consisting of trumpeter Karl George, saxophonists Bill Ellis and Leon Beck, pianist Harold Morrow, drummer Bill "Booker" Hart and bassist and novelty singer Bill Cooper . Joe brought the Rhythm & Blues style from New Orleans into his work and took 13th place in the R&B sector with Mardi Gras , which would remain his last chart placement. The title was soon adapted by Professor Longhair and Fats Domino to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and an unofficial anthem of the New Orleans Carnival .

On a return trip from a stay in his hometown to California, there was a recording session for Peacock Records in Houston , Texas in 1950. After a few more attempts at the American branch of London Records , Masters Music and Derby Records , Joe gave himself up Lutcher, disappointed in the lack of success, turned to the church. He became a supporter of the Seventh-day Adventists and studied the Bible with the rock 'n' roll star Little Richard at the time. Lutcher encouraged Richard in 1957 in his decision to leave the show business in favor of a priestly education.

Joe opened his own record store for gospel music with Jordan Records and a record label of the same name, where he brought out an album and several singles with religious music.

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Singles

Shuffle boogie   R&B 10 03/06/1948 (1 week) Rockin 'boogie   R&B 14th 09/25/1948 (1 week) Mardi Gras   R&B 13 09/03/1949 (1 week)

Web links

• Joe Lutcher at the All Music Guide

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Jim Dawson: Joe Lutcher. In: The Apple Corps (archive). Archived from the original on November 20, 2008 ; accessed on November 20, 2008 (English). 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Dave Penny: Joe Lutcher. (No longer available online.) In: Black Cat Rockabilly Europe. Formerly in the original ; Retrieved November 20, 2008 (originally published on This Is My Story).  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    
3. ^ ^{A b} Richie Unterberger: Joe Lutcher Biography. In: All Music Guide. Retrieved November 20, 2008 . 
4. ^ Charles White: The Life and Times of Little Richard. The Authorized Biography . Omnibus Press, London / New York / Paris / Sydney / Copenhagen / Berlin / Madrid / Tokyo 2003, ISBN 0-7119-9761-6 , Don't Knock The Rock, pp. 80-95 (first edition: 1984).
5. ^ Joel Whitburn: Hot R&B Songs. Billboard 1942-2010 . 6th edition. Record Research Inc., Menomonee Falls 2010, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 , The Artist Section, pp. 413 (American English).