Luther Allison
Luther Allison (born August 17, 1939 in Widener , Arkansas , † August 12, 1997 in Madison , Wisconsin ) was an American blues musician (guitarist, singer, songwriter).
biography
In his childhood he grew up listening to gospel music . In 1951, Allison's family moved to Chicago , where he joined the gospel group Southern Travelers . Due to the influence of his brother Ollie Lee, his interest increasingly shifted to the blues and from 1954 on he played in his brother's blues band. In 1957 he left them and formed a band with his brother Grant, which was first called The Rolling Stones and was later renamed the Four Jivers . He had previously worked in Chicago clubs as a sideman for musicians like Magic Sam , Otis Rush and Freddie King .
In 1965 he recorded his first single, followed by his first album Love Me Mama in 1967. In 1969 he made a highly acclaimed appearance at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival . At the same time, his style became more rock-heavy, which gave his career a boost in popularity.
After several tours in the States, Allison also went on tour in Europe in the mid- 1970s . In 1977 he moved to France , where he lived for 15 years. In 1994 Allison made a notable comeback in America with the album Soul Fixin 'Man . Both himself and the album won four Handy Awards each . In the following years, Allison received numerous awards, such as B. with the Living Blues Award 1995 as best live act. In 1996 he received the award in five categories, including best male blues artist and again best live performer. In 1997 he was awarded the prize in three categories and in 1998 he was named best guitarist and blues singer.
Luther Allison was diagnosed with lung cancer while on tour in the summer of 1997. He died five days before his 58th birthday. He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998.
His son Bernard Allison is also a gifted blues guitarist.
Discography
Studio albums
- Love Me Mama (1969)
- Bad News Is Coming (1973)
- Luther's Blues (1974)
- Night Life (1975)
- Love Me Papa (1977)
- Gonna Be a Live One in Here Tonight (1979)
- Southside Safari (1979)
- Power Wire Blues (1979)
- Time (1980)
- Lets Have a Natural Ball (1984)
- Life Is a Bitch (1984)
- Here I Come (1985)
- Serious (1987)
- Let's try it again (1989)
- Hand Me Down My Moonshine (1992)
- Soul Fixin 'Man (1994)
- Bad Love (1994)
- Blue Streak (1995) Living Blues Award 1996 Best Album
- Rich man (1987)
- Rick Moon (1996)
- Reckless (1997)
- Pay It Forward (2002)
- Standing at the Crossroad (2003)
- Underground (2007)
Live recordings
- Live in Paris (1979, reissued 2001)
- Live (1979)
- Live '89 (1996)
- More From Berlin 1989
- Live In Montreux (1996)
- Live in Chicago (1999) Living Blues Award 2000 Best Album
- Live In Paradise, DVD (2001)
- Songs from the road Montreal Jazz Festival 2007 CD + DVD Ruf Record GMBH (2010)
Guest appearances (selection)
- Johnny Shines Johnny Shines With Big Walter Horton (1969)
- Shakey Jake Further on Up the Road (1969)
- Sunnyland Slim Slim's Got His Thing Goin 'on (1969)
- Blues Company Damn! Let's Jam (1991)
- Joanna Connor Band: Rock and Roll Gypsy (1995)
- Otis Grand Perfume and Grime (1996)
- Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute (1998)
- Jimmy Johnson Every Road Ends Somewhere (1999)
- Bernard Allison Hang On! (2001)
- Otis Rush Otis Rush & Friends: Live At Montreux 1986 (2006)
swell
- Robert Santelli, The Big Book Of Blues - A Biographical Encyclopedia , 1993, ISBN 0-14-015939-8 , p. 7 ff.
- Biography on Allison's homepage (accessed November 22, 2006)
Web links
- Luther Allison in the database of Find a Grave (English)
- http://www.luther-allison.com/
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Allison, Luther |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues guitarist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17th August 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Widener , Arkansas |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 12, 1997 |
| Place of death | Madison , Wisconsin |